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Major CjEnerai. Ci.arkn(.-k K. Kdwards 



HISTORY of 

The loist 

Machine Gun Battalion 



Editor-in-Chief 
1st Lieutenant Philip S. Wainwright 

Assistant Editors 

Sergeant George E. Bannister Private, 1st Class, David vS. Green 

Company B Company C 

Photographic Editor 
Corporal Ruel C. Stratton 

sissistant Photographic Editors 

Private, 1st Class, Philip H. Hammerslough 

Company B 

Wagoner William W. Scoville^.. 
Company C 

Historian 
1st Lieutenant Harold Amory / 

Statistician 
Sergeant John R. Stoddard 

Business Manager 
2nd Lieutenant Morton W. Scoville 

Assistant Business Managers 

Si'.Kc.EANT Howard J. Bruemmer Corporal Everett N. Sturman 

Company B , Company C 



Published by 

The 101st Machine Gun Battalion Association 

Hartford, Conn. 

1922 



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To the Memory of Our Dead 




Wallace Holmes Brown 
Garland Van Cole 
Louis Francis Hart 
Ralph Lee Henry 



Headquarters Company 
Haskell Mayo, Jr. 

B Company 

Paul Kimberly Lambert 
John Joseph McCann 
Hezekiah Scovil Porter 
Harold Ansley Smith 



Lawrence Crothers Verges 



C Company 



John Franklin Alexander 
Franklin Allen 
Albert Joseph Audette 
William Alfred Bruton 
Ignatius Brzostowicz 
David Alfred Blowers 
Paul Watson Butler 
Robert Elroy Collins 
Lome Lee Cupples 
Harrv Gilbert Faulk 



Kenneth Sinclair Murray Finlayson 

Moseley Hastings Gray 

Waldo Clayton Hayes 

Fred Wilson Hyland 

James Francis Kane 

Walter Clifford Lamkins 

Raymond Eugene Martin 

Giuseppe Molinari 

Carroll Vernon Smith 

Andrew Smith Welling^ton 



Died After Leaving Service 
B Company C Company 

Gordon Robert Barratt George Weston Ward 



The Supreme Sacrifice 



/^ VALIANT Hearts, who to your glory came 
^"^^ Through dust of conflict and through battle-flame; 
Tranquil you lie. your knightly virtue proved. 
Your memory hallowed in the Land you loved. 

Proudly you gathered, rank on rank to war. 

As who had heard God's message from afar; 

All you had hoped for, all you had you gave 

To save Mankind yourselves you scorned to save. 

Splendid you passed, the great surrender made, 
Into the light that nevermore shall fade; 
Deep your contentment in that blest abode, 
Who wait the last clear trumpet-call of God. 

Long years ago. as earth lay dark and still. 
Rose a loud cry upon a lonely hill. 
While in the frailty of our human clay 
Christ, our Redeemer, passed the self-same way. 

Still stands His Cross from that dread hour to this. 
Like some bright star above the dark abyss; 
Still, through the veil, the Victor's pitying eyes 
Look down to bless our lesser Calvaries. 

These were His servants, in His steps they trod 
Following through death the martyr'd Son of God: 
Victor He rose; victorious too shall rise 
They who have drunk His cup of Sacrifice. 

Risen Lord. Shepherd of our Dead. 
Whose Cross has bought them and whose Staff has led — 
In glorious hope their proud and sorrowing Land 
Commits her Children to Thy gracious hand. 



FOREWORD 



IN January, 1919, when the Battalion was billeted in Louvieres, someone 
coneeived the idea that the story of our experiences in France ought to 
be ])ut into permanent form. Accordingly, a general committee from each 
Com])any, Headquarters, and the Sanitary Detachment met in the orderly- 
room and elected a Board of Editors and Business Managers. No very 
clear idea was ])ut forward as to the rnake-up of the book; but it was de- 
cided that a history of the Battalion must be written, with a complete 
record of the individual personnel. This information was collected from 
Company and Battalion records, and from the men themselves. On arrival 
at Camp Dcvens, photographs of each platoon were taken in such a way 
that cuts could be easily made of the indi\-iduals. This, however, did not 
account for the men who had previously left the outfit, so every effort was 
made to get in touch with all of them. It ])roved to be a slow and difficult 
undertaking, but by long persistence we have been able to report, "All 
1) resent or accounted for!" 

It is hoped that this book will be treasured by our men as a memento 
of those stirring days spent together in the service of our Country, and that 
in years to come it may continue to call to mind the incidents that went to 
make up our daily life "over there." We hope it wall bring the picture of our 
great adventure to the imagination of those who could not share it with us. 

We are glad to acknowledge our great indebtedness to Mr. William 
H. Scoville for his cooperation, and for the use of space in his ofifice for 
editorial work. Our thanks are also due to Miss Lillian York, for her valua- 
ble assistance in clerical work, to the Adjutants General of Connecticut 
and W'rmont for the use of their records, to Roy D. Bassette for the cover 
design, to William M. Buekman, Major J. H. Kelso Davis, Edwin V. 
Mitchell, to Lieutenant Colonel Emerson (j. Ta\-lor and Houghton Mifflin 
Company (for permission to reprint maps from the history of the Twenty- 
Sixth Di\'ision, "New England in France"), and to the many others who 
hax'c aided us in various wa\'s. 

THE BOARD OF EDITORS. 




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CONTENTS 



To the ]\Iemon^ of Our Dead 3 

The Supreme Sacrifice, poem 4 

Foreword 5 

List of Illustrations 9 

Organization of the 26th Division 11 

"National Ouard," poem, Captain Roland F. Andreivs 12 

Roster, 1917 13 

History of the 101st Machine Oun Battalion, 

Lieulcnanl Harold Amory ". 17 

Origin of Organization Chateau-Thierry 

France Refitting and Training 

Billets and Training The Saint-Mihiel Salient 

The Chemin des Dames The Meuse-Argonne Offensive 

The Toul Sector The Armistice 

Home 

Mont-les-Neufchateau, Ernest dcF. Mid, D.D 57 

The Tripod 66 

The 101st M. G. Bn. as seen from the Y. M. C. A., 

Rev. Charles E. Hesselgrave, Ph.D 69 

A Machine-Gunner's Diary, compiled by the Editor 83 

"\'crdun," jjoem, Lieutenant Harold Amory 147 

An Old Billet Town Revisited, Sergcaiit " Boz" Hawley 149 

Roster, 1919 159 

Jndi\-idual Records, compiled by the Editors 163 

The Dead Sanitary Detachment 

Officers Comj^an}^ B 

Headquarters Com])any Comi^any C 

Attached 

Statistics, Sergeant John R. Stoddard . . 318 

The Welfare Association, The Editor 322 

Appendix 326 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



Major General Clarence R. Edwards 

Company B at Niantic 

Company C at Niantic 

"Jump-off" of the Attack on Epieds, July 22 . 
Connecticut State Mobilization Camp, Xiantic 

Neuf chateau Area (Map) 

H. M. Transport Megantic 

Chemin Des Dames Sector (Mapj .... 

Sketch showing Barrage of B Company's Guns at Pinon 

La Reine (Boucq) Sector (Map) 

Sketch showing Barrage of B Company Guns at Aprcmont 
Advance of 26th Division, Aisne-Marne Offensive (Map) 

St. Mihiel Offensive (Map) 

Meuse-Argonne Offensive (IVIap) 

Mont-les-Neufchateau 

Guests at Christmas Party 

Battalion Headquarters 

The Christmas Tree 

The Chateau 

The Church and "Red Barracks" 

School-master and Kids 

The Battalion Glee 

Company B's Mess Shack 

Mont-les-Neufchateau 

Mont-les-Neufchateau 

Entering Town 

The Lower Fountain 

C Company Sergeants 

Two Husky Bar-maids 

The Pistol Range 

B Company Squad at Gim Drill 

C Company with French M. G. Section 

B Company at M. G. Range 
Church at Vregny 

Flivvers at Vregny 

German "Hate" — Chemin des Dames 

"Y" at Vregny 

Pinon Hill 

Ailleval 

Old Mill Billet at Fontaine 
The Toul Sector 

Officers' Barracks at Harcourt 

Kitchen Gang 

Jouy 

Battalion Barracks 

B Company Section M. G. Nest 



PAGE 

Facing 1 
6 



16 
18 
20 
21 
24 
30 
32 
36 
39 
45 
49 
56 



65 

82 



91 



98 



10 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

Page 

Field of Fire from the M. G. Nest 

Entrance to "The Swamp" 

Church at Flirey 

Billet of Company C 
Entrance to "The Swamp," Toul Sector 107 

Camp at Coulommes 

In Pursuit of the Boche 

Camouflaged Flivvers 

Sacerie Wood 

The Sanitary Detachment 
Ciraves of Bruton, Butler, and Wellington, Fere Woods 113 

Air-plane Bomb Hole 

Company B's Rolling Kitchen 

Graves of Ralph Henry atid Harold Smith at Sacerie Farm 

"Doctor of Wines and Liquors" 

C Company Mess 

A Swim in the Seine 

Dugouts at Seuzey Woods — St. Mihiel 126 

Captured German Truck 

"Y" at Seuzey Woods 

Wreck of Famous Zouave Train 

101st M. G. Battalion in Trenches 

C Company Men at Bois de Brabant 

Battalion P. C. at Bois de Brabant 

102d Infantry P. C. on Armistice Noon 134 

First Leave Gang 

Louvieres 

Chateau, Officers' Quarters 

Billet of C Company Wagoners 

B Company Baseball 
B Company Sergeants at Louvieres 140 

Winter 

Typical Billet Kitcjicn 

C Company Billet Entrance 

"The Beer Garden" 

B Company Kitchen 

"Hommes 40, Chevaux 8" 

Welcome-Boat of Welfare Association 

104th Artillery Band Serenading Battalion 144 

101st Machine Gun Battalion Entertains Elsie Janis and Mother 144 

U. S. Transport Agamemnon 148 

Review of 26th Division at Camp Devens 148 

Camp Devens, April, 1919 158 

Headcjuarters Company and Sanitary Detachment 

Company B 

Company C 

Welcome Home Parade, Hartford, April 30, 1919 162 

Company B 

Company C 
Presentation of Colors to the State, April 30, 1919 325 



Organization of the 26th Division 

1917 



Commanding General 
Major General CLARENCE R. EDWARDS 

Chief of Staff 
Brigadier General George H. Shelton, G. S. 



Divisional Troops 
Headquarters Troop 

101st Field Signal Battalion 

101st Engineers 
101st Machine Gun Battalion 



51st Infantry Brigade, Brigadier General Peter E. Traub 

101st Infantry 102d Infantry 

102d Machine Gun Battalion 



52d Infantry Brigade, Brigadier General Charles H. Cole 

103d Infantry 104th Infantry 

103d Machine Gun Battalion 



51st Field Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General William L. Lassiter 

101st Field Artillery — 75 mm. 102d Field Artillery— 75 mm. 

103d Field Artillery— 155 mm. 

101st Trench Mortar Batterv 



101st Train Headquarters and Militar}- Police, 

Colonel Warren E. Sweetser 
101st Ammunition Train 101st Supply Train 

101st Sanitary Train 101st Engineer Train 



National Guard 

(By pci mission af "Life") 

r^IDN'T know much, but knew something, 

Learned while the other men played, 
Didn't delay for commissions; 

Went while the other men stayed. 
Took no degrees up at Plattsburg, 

Needed too soon for the game, 
Ready at hand to be asked for, 

Orders said: "Come!" — And they came. 

Didn't get bars on their shoulders. 

Or three months to see if they could; 
Didn't get classed with the reg'lars, 

Or told they were equally good. 
Just got a job and got busy, 

Awkward they were, but intent, 
Filing no claim for exemption, 

Orders said: "Go!" — And they went. 

Didn't get farewell processions. 

Didn't get newspaper praise. 
Didn't escape the injunction 

To mend, in extenso, their ways. 
Work-bench and counter and roll-top. 

Dug in and minding their chance. 
Orders said: "First line of trenches!' 

They're holding them somewhere in France. 

ROLAND F. ANDREWS, 

Formerly Captain, 1st Injantry, 
Connecticut National Guard. 



Roster 



191 7 

Major James L. Howard. L'onDuaiiding 



HEADQUARTERS C:OMPANY 

1st Lt Hiham W. Mills, Adjutant and Siipijli/ Officer 

S<;t Maj Dwight A. Peask 

Supply Sot Wilkuei) H, TiiiKNAN Staulk Sgt Geokgb A. Williams 



C|j1 Herbert C. Noyes 
Wag. Arthur A. Barlow- 
Mario A. Bianchi 
Homer F. Brown 
Frank J. Clark 
Homer P. Darling 
James E. Dick 
Fred Ferris 
Frank L. Folsom 
Eugene Gapit 
Percy L. Griswold 
Clarence E. Halvorson 
Ralph L. Henry 



Wag WilHain Hull 

Daniel A. James 
Terry Kinney 
Norman LaFayetfe 
Henry LaFlowci 
Oney E. Lanciaiilt 
Malcolm MacAskill 
John MacDonald, Jr. 
Haskell Mayo 
Donald McDonald 
William W. Menard 
Collies B. Millard 
Daniel O. Nash 



Wag Peter Pickel 

Harry E. Smith 
Pvt Id Samuel C. Neiburg 
Albert Newman 
William J. Thornton 
Pvt James M. Brooks 
Arthur F. Clark 
James R. Phillips 
John Roberts 
Unson W. Smith 
Ancel L. Turcotte 
Cook John J. Boedicker 



ORDNANCE DETACHMEN'I 



Sgt Richard E. Moore 
Pvt Icl Dudley M. North 



Pvt Andre S. Janet 
Jcjhn W. Sullivan 



'vt Icl Edward J. Kenefick 
Pvt Edwin R. Curran 
Jewell W. Godard 



SANITARY DETACHMENT 

1st Lt Hknhv A. Bunker, M.C. 

Pvt Herbert Ratenburg 
Anthony W. Telesca 
Ernest .J. Itzig 



Cook Wm. G. B. .Vngermann 
Cook Eugene F. Kelly 



Capt Morgan G. Bulkeley, Jr. 
1st I.t .Stillman F. Westbrook 



COMPANY B 

2nd Lt Charles A. Pellett 
2nd Lt Chester F. Comey 

1st Sgt Philip S. Wainwright 



2nd Lt Harold Amory 
2iid Lt Charles A. Bennett 



Sgt Houghton Bulkeley 
Cpl Rodney G. Dennis 
Cpl Edward V. Harrington 
Bglr Robert E. Austin 
Bglr Francis T. Aninger 
Pvt Icl Godfrey M. Day 
Stanley H. Leeke 



Headquarters 

Pvt Id Walter R. Hall 

Ellsworth A. Hawkc 
Richmond Rucker 
Pvt Harold A. Beach 
*Ralph S. Butler 
*Porter B. Chase 
Elias B. Denison 



Pvt John A. Ortgies 

llczekiah S. Porter 
Howard L. Sargent 
Harry F. Sceery 
William L. Smith 
Bulkeley Van Schaack 



Sgt Charles G. Shepard 
Pvt Icl Henry R. Goodwin 



1ST PLATOON 



Cpl Greiiville D. Whitney 
I^vt Id Louis R, Daniels 

William H. Hart, Jr. 

Clifford R. Haskins 
Pvt John J. Corcoran 

.\rthur Johnson 
Pvt William Kievit 



Isl Section 
Sgt Andrew S. Gra.v 

Pvt John M. Lawson 
Clarence A. Usher 
Frank C. Wadswortli 

Cpl Benjamin A. Bourn 
Pvt Icl E. Whittlesey Abb(,' 
Henry A. Bennett 



Pvt Paul H. Ailing 

Adrian S. Buekman 



Pvt Id l':dKar W. Champion 
Pvt Wallace 11. Brown 
Harold J. .Malone 
Woolscy .McA. Pollock 
Giusi'OiJC Ris^d 
J,,,s,-iih Slater ' 
Harold G. Williams 



' Transferred from Battalion at Niantic. 



14 



History of Tiik 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



Cpl llcmv A. Hniwn 
Pvt 1(1 \Viii!,i,.w H. Arnold 
Car.liiu'i' II. Hull 
Kusscll N. Nelson 

Pvt .lolui Laiuliiskv 

H('nj;iiiiiii ('. IVrkins 

Pvt Joseph IJ. .Staph 



Sgt Harolrl J. Kennedy 
Pvt Ic'l John S. Gunning 



Cpl Luther J. Parker 
Pvt hi llaroKi N. Chandler 
Cordon M. Uohiiison 
Cardner C. W.^ld 

Pvt William I, Parber 
Prainard W. Brown 

Pvt Earle 11. Ciowdy 



Cpl Roberts K. Skinner 
Pvt Icl Truenian \V, Brewer 
John J. Kolev 
Clifford K. llo.lder 

Pvt Carrol II. Anair 

Harrv S Camphell 
William J. Crane 



2d Scrlion 
Sgt Raymond J. .Maiin 

Pvt Reuel C. Stratton 
Harry G. N'alentine 
Lawrenee C. Verses 

Cpl liiehar.l M. Parker 
I'vt lei Garold Brings 

Richard Cnshman 

2ND PLATOON 

Headquarters 

Srd Scrlidii 
.Sgt Elmer G. Braekett 



Pvt 



Pvt Raymond L. .tones 
Allen P. Parker 
Louis C. Reeknagcl 

Cpl Perev II. Williams 
Pvt lei Lindley B. Bicknell 
Einer Sallier 

4th Section 

Sgt Frederick L. Way 

Pvt Philip U. Ilammerslough 

David W. Olschefskie 
Cpl Clark B. Hill 
Pvt Icl Arthur \V. Bandv 
Charles J. Miel 
Anthonv L. Poto 
Pvt Westell" R. Averv 



Pvt Icl Wallai'c II. Gladwin 
I'vt William S Bourn 
Wilson S. Falls 
EuKene M. Kelcy 
\'incent Del'. Lamb 
Herman F. Leist 
Edward J. Alanning, Jr. 



Edward F. McGovern 
Alford T. Schade 



Pvt 1<1 Harold A. Smith 
Pvt William A. Allen 
Douglas T. Ball 
Lyie E. Dean 
John F. Manion 
Stefan Sancy/.k 
Alfred G. Stoughton 



Pvt Clarence R. Bradv 
Harold J. Brickley 
Leslie C. Eggleston 
Arthur E. McCanii 
James G. Swift 
Giuseppe \'ene/.ia 



Sgt Uobart W. Thomas, Jr. 
Pvt Id I'.llord P. Rogers 



;5RD PLATOON 

Headquarters 



Pvt 



Cpl Howard R. Manning 
Pvt Icl Fr.'d J. Cirossklaus 

Edmund R. Hami)Son 
John 11 Jackson. Jr. 

Pvt .\ll.ert A. Baril 

Hurd.'tle W, Fothergill 
llarrv .1. Corse, Jr. 



Cpl Everett II Hart 
Pvt Icl Allen N. Jones 

William C. Skinner, Jr. 
Arthur V. R Tilton 
Pvt Cleon A Bell 

Malcolm I Buck 
Gerald D. Burnham 



Mess Sgt George E. Bannister 
llorseshr Louis Canzenella 
Mech Gordon R. Barratt 

Martin H Di-xheimer 



Capt Rawdon W'. Myers 
1st Lt George W. Cheney 



Cpl Harrison C. Bracken 
Cpl Theodore E Whitnev 
Bglr Leon C Bra.llev 
Bglr John B Hiddell 
Pvt Icl Franklin Allen 
llemv H llvde 



Stli Section 
Sgt Clinton L. Allen 
Pvt William H. Gray 
Frank A. Gn^er 
Robert R Riepsame 
(^pl Howard J Brueinmer 
Pvt Icl William Burden 
James A. Parsons 
.Sydney D. Pinuey 

(1th Section 
.Sgt ^'ine R. Parmelee 
Pvt John Heron 
George B. Cov 
Norman L. NIorrill 
Clinton C. O'Callahan 
Cpl Leslie A. Tracy 
Pvt Icl Chester O. Matthews 
Oliver W. Merrow 

TRAIN 

Supply Sgt Erie Rogers 
Mech Lval S. TetTt 
Cook John P. Kipp 
Cook Patrick F. McVeigh 

COMPANY C 

1st Lt Chester C. Thomas 
2nd Lt William S. Eaton 

1st Sgt Francis A. Cliristensen 
Headquarters 
Sgt Morton W. Seoville 
Pvt Icl William W. Seoville 
Samuel Thornton 
Freas Ci. Keen 
I'vt Wesley F. Brewer 
Stanley T. tireen 
Walter C. Lanikins 



Curl A. Kjclleran 
Lirnest E. Norris 



Pvt Dt>nald M. Doekrell 
Roy D. Heymann 
Paul K. Lambert 
Carl W. Lawson 
(ieorge E. Mercer 
William 11. H.lvea, Jr 



Pvt 1(1 Arthur P. R. Wadluud 
Pvt Herbert Johnson 

Nelson L. Kingsburv 
John J. McCann 
Richard W. Parsons 
I'.arle A. Penfield 
Joe Zurik 



Stable Sgt Drummond W. LittI 

Cook Paul Schuman 
Pvt Icl Josei>h .\ Hyan 
Pvt .Vntonio Vcneo 



2n(l Lt John A. .\gnew 
2nd Lt Gerald Courtney 



I'vt Louis S. Tracy 
Raliih A. Jones 
(•eorge Patterson 
Kenneth S. M. Finla.\sc 
I'lmer S Fox 
•Darrell M. .Scaftergood 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



15 



Sgt .lolin W. O'Neil 
Pvt Icl John L. Seaver 



Pvt Ic! Ernest S. Kitson 

Cpl William B. Mcintosh 
Pvt Icl Alfred E. Woodard 
James A. Coleman 
Pvt Harry G. Faulk 

David I. Hitchcock 
Arthur E. Cota 



1ST PLATOON 



Pvt Moseley H. Gray 
Clayton Evans 



Pvt 1(1 John W. Kearney 

Cpl George W. Glenney 

Pvt Icl Lester K. McEIwain 

Carroll V, Smith 

Pvt Raymond E. Martin 

John H. Gardner 

George A. Cormier 

Sgt Ian D. Mackenzie 
Pvt Icl John R. Stoddard 



1st Section 
Sgt Calvin J. Ward 

Pvt Ernest L. Hutchinson 
Ernest C. Clark 
William H. Brooks 

Cpl Lawrence B. Neeld 
Pvt Icl Charles P. Swan 
Aaron W. Morrill 

2d Section 
Sgt George C. Ackley 

Pvt Albert J, Audetle 

George H. Hoev, Jr. 
Cpl George A. Elliott 
Pvt Icl Earl O. Cressey 
Pvt Robert D. Baker 

2ND PLATOON 



Pvt Icl Robert J. Lindsay 
Pvt John W. Cota 
George A. Cota 
Anthony J. Schultz 
John C. Wiley 
Hadley E. Burnham 
Richard Menegat 



Pvt Icl Matthew H. Connors 
Pvt Harold F. Burnham 
William B. Chambers 
Miles A. Berry 
William C. Murray 
Edwin M. Annis 



Pvt Hudson R. Hawley 
Louis W. Sechtman 



Pvt Icl Joseph F. Clark 

Cpl Joseph F. Comerford 
Pvt Id Elmer S. Tiger 

Edward J. Johnston 
Pvt George W. Ward 
John D. Weir 
Henry E. McCann 
James H. Brennan 



Pvt Icl Ernest E. Alton 

Cpl Lawrence H. Hansel 
Pvt Icl Maxwell S. Gardner 
Pvt Icl Leon A. Woodmancy 
Pvt John F. Alexander 
Harold N. Connolly 
Hugh W. Halvosa 
Otis M. Miller 



3rd Section 
Sgt Maurice L, Furnivall 

Pvt Edgar W. Mohr 
Francis E. Murphy 
Carlos E. Waldo 

Cpl Chandler T. Green 
Pvt Icl George H. Barnes 
George R. Gowan 

4th Section 
Sgt Richard C. Hastings 

Pvt John F. Molloy 
Giuseppe Molinari 
Ralph Pascale 
Cpl Charles C. Pearson 
Pvt Icl Peter K. Rask 

Douglas A. Blease 
Seward H. Strickland 



Pvt Icl Ray H. Gustetter 
Pvt Harold F. Kropp 
Conrad W. Bohman 
Francis L. Winslow 
Harry N. Smith 
Fred W. Reichard 
Alexander Zymiski 



Pvt Icl Paul W. Butler 
Pvt George J. McGinn 
• William A. Bruton 
Andrew S. Wellington 
Henry C. Barrows 
John C. Hussey 
Carmelo DiFranco 



3RD PLATOON 



Sgt Edward S. Cushman 
Pvt Icl Everett N. Sturman 



Pvt Harold C. Willard 
Herbert A. Brann 



Pvt Icl John J. Keevers 
Cpl William P. Allen 
Pvt Icl John J. Nolan 

Thomas F. Burke 
Pvt Leonartl C. Bradbury 
Raymond A. Dalton 
Ralph A. Weill 



Pvt Icl David S. Green 

Cpl William J. Sweenev 
Pvt Icl Charles E, McCarthy 
Flovd A. Couch 
Pvt William J. Couch 

Gordon N. Christopher 
Marshall H. Kashman 
Walter S. Smith 



Mess Sgt Sidney W. Rodda 
Horseshr John J. Costello 
Mech Waldo C. Hayes 
Saddler Albert Rossing 
Cook Louis F. LeBlond 



5th Section 
Sgt James A. Durston 



Pvt Alden H. Whitmorc 
Aleack L^rechena 

Cpl Felix E. Baridon 
Pvt Icl Willard F. Terrell 
Frederick A. Miles 

Pvt Lloyd W. Beach 

6th Section 
Sgt George H. Berlin 

Pvt George H. Pfeffer 
Charles F. Sweet 

Cpl Royton T. BristoU 

Pvt Icl Arthur A. Neilson 

William A. Forant 

Pvt Albert C. Snyder 
William J. O'Neil 

TRAIN 

Supply Sgt William W. Buck 

Cook Byron P. Graff 

Percy L. Gould 

Pvt Icl Elton M. Allen 



Pvt Icl Louis R. Lyman 
Irwin H. Rogers 
John H. Nolan 
Theodore J. Fabryk 
George Reise 
Lee P. Bibeau 



Pvt Icl Robert E. Collins 
Pvt Edward W. O'Mara 
Edmund F. Costello 
Adolph E. Feneslau 
Buel J. Ferguson 
Edmund L. LaRock 
Edward B. Barnes 



Stable Sgt Harold E. Trumble 

Pvt Archie C. Lenzi 
Arnold R. Lask 
William D. F. Dunn 
Constantino Cimminello 







5«^ 



History of the loist 
Machine Gun BattaHon 

Bv Lieutenant Harold Amory 



ORIGIN OF ORGANIZATION 

BEFORE beginning the actual histoiy of the 101st Machine Gun 
Battahon, it is necessary to devote some time to an explanation 
of how it was fonned, organized, and made a part of the 26th 
Division. 

The Third Separate Squadron, Connecticut Cavalry, was called out on 
July 25 under command of Major James L. Howard. The Squadron was 
made up of Troops A, B, L and M. Troops A and M were New Haven 
organizations, formed wnth the original Troop A as a nucleus; while Troops 
B and L were composed chiefly of men frqm Hartford and vicinity. The 
latter troops were formed by splitting the old Troop B into two new ones 
and Ijringing them up to recjuired strength by ineans of enlistment. Both 
of the original Troops had seen four months in Federal service on the Mexi- 
can Border during the previous year, and held enviable records for efficiency 
among the National Guard organizations of the cotmtry. It is Troops B 
and L, however, in which we shall be particularly interested, as they were 
to form what is known today as the 101st Machine Gtm Battalion. 

Shortly after the call to the colors the Third Separate Squadron was 
ordered to the mobilization camp at Niantic, Conn. On August 5, it was 
federahzed. On August 20, it was assigned to the 26th Division; and the 
next day came an order from Division Headquarters transferring the 
"Third Separate Squadron wholly to the 101st Machine Gun Battalion." 
The following day the four companies appeared on the morning report as 
"A, B, Cand D." 

There was much to be done at Niantic. A troop of cavalry has a peace 
strength of 65 men, while a machine gun company at war strength carries 
an enlisted jjersonnel of 172 men. Much was done by recruiting. Non- 
commissioned officers were given passes to Hartford, New Britain and New 
Haven, and through their energy helped materially to bring the Battalion 
up to war strength. Perhaps the largest contribution, however, was the 
assignment of 196 men and four officers from the 1st Vermont Infantry. 
The commissioned personnel was brought up to strength i^y assignment of 



18 



History of Tiii'. 101 sr Machixe Gun Battaliox 




Connecticut State Alobilizatiun Camp, iNiantic 

eight reserve officers from Plattsburg. The early days of September found 
the BattaHon with a full complement of officers and men. 

FRANCE 

By the first of September, it was pretty well understood that the 101st 
would embark for France in the \'ery near future. Many were the rumors 
and great the discussion as to the exact date of departure. All troop move- 
ments had to be kept very secret, and outside of the Commanding Officer, 
and a few who were necessarily concerned, no one had any basis for his 
o]^inion except circinnstantial evidence or pure speculation. Almost every 
day some man would \'isit the freight yards to see if any of the cars contain- 
ing baggage had disappeared. As a matter of fact, the sailing date was can- 
celled two or three times, so that the month of September was a j^eriod of 
suspense. The delay even caused some pessimists to })redict a winter in 
South Carolina. There are many today who will remember the "practice 
move " that was made late in September. Orders came to "strike tents and 
pack all equipment." This was taken as conclusive evidence that the time 
for departure had finally come; and New London was nmiored as the 
probable port of embarkation. When the Battalion actually found itself on 
the road to that city there seemed to be no further doubt. Enthusiasts were 
doomed to disappointment, however, as a few hours later found e\-eryone 
back in camp at Niantic, with a few vociferous cooks, lined up as a recep- 
tion committee, waiting beside a huge placard on which they had printed 
in large letters, "Welcome Home." 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 19 

On the 9th of October suspense was ended. The Battalion entrained 
early in the morning bound for Montreal. There were few civilians at the 
station, and the entrainment and departure were accomplished quietly. 
The following morning the Battalion arrived at Montreal and marched on 
board H. M. S. Megantic. The ship was underway by ten o'clock the same 
morning. After a short wait at Halifax for the convoy to arrive, there fol- 
lowed an uneventful voyage, the monotony of which was somewhat broken 
by boat-drill and physical exercise. No submarines were encountered, and 
Liverpool was reached on the 23rd. The Battalion debarked, and entrained 
immediately for Southampton, spending one night on the way in a rest- 
camp at Borden. Four days at Southampton served to further initiate the 
men into the delights of a "rest-camp." On the night of the 30th, orders 
were received to embark for France, and the 31st found the 101st in another 
rest-camp at le Havre. The following day it was en route for Neufchateau, 
and arrived there on the 2nd of November. Orders were received to billet 
in Mont-les-Neufchateau, a small town some four kilometers outside of 
Neufchateau. Accordingly the Battalion started out on foot, and at 
eleven A. M., arrived at the place which was to be its home for the next 
three months. 

BILLETS AND TRAINING 

Mont-les-Neufchateau is a small, typical, French town. As you ap- 
proach it, you gain the impression of a cluster of grayish- white, red-roofed 
houses huddled together at the foot of a hill. Open fields stretch away to 
right and left, with the Bois de Bourlemont in the background. On enter- 
ing town, the first thing that attracts attention is a substantial stone 
lavoire, or wash house, which is usually occupied by three or four ancient 
women industriously scrubbing clothes. In France, weather does not inter- 
fere with the washing, and you will find these same old women at their work 
on the coldest days in winter, as well as the warmest in summer. The main 
street is flanked with solid rows of houses, each with its bam built onto the 
house after the French style. Some 150 meters beyond the lavoire, the other 
one street of the town turns sharply to the left. This comer is marked by a 
fountain. On one side of the fountain is the house of M. le Maire, with its 
impressive dunghill flanking the gutter, and on the other side is one of the 
three cafes of which the town boasts. From this point the main street con- 
tinues to climb the hill, with more and more pronounced slope. On the left 
you pass the Ecole des Filles; a little further on, you are opposite the church, 
a small, gray, stone affair with an imposing little spire. In front of the 
church is a square, across which two neat little houses front each other. 



■^"7 



V^ucooi-e-i'ii-A 



KlUr CHATEAU Al^EA 

Scale. 1= 240,000(Approximately) 



jV^U-OUIMft-CCOO 




Kron. ■X.'w Kn«lan,l in Kian.," hy E.noisou ti. Taylor. C\Hiitosy ol Moushtoi. .M.lUin Co. 



History of The 101st ^Machine Gun Battalion 21 




H. M. Transport Megantic 

One of these houses became Battalion Headquarters. A few more steps 
will take you out of the to^Am and on toward Bois de Bourlemont. 

The business of billeting the Battalion was something of a task. In 
peace times the to\Am had two or three hundred inhabitants, but in war 
times it was supposed to hold five hundred soldiers in addition to the civi- 
lian population. Anyone who has had experience in France, knows that a 
to\^m billeted for fi^•e hundred French soldiers will hardly e^-er accomodate 
five hundred Americans. Luckih- there were some barracks at our disposal; 
but e\'en so, it was found necessar}- to billet A Company in the town of 
Cirtilleux, some twelve kilometers away. Finally a place was found for 
everyone. Most of D Company was packed into Adrian barracks and two 
or three houses at the entrance of to^^^l. C Company was given the rest of 
the main street, while B Company was installed along the side street, and 
in an old chateau which had long since fallen into disrepair. Headquarters 
Company and the Sanitary Detachment were wedged in wherever there was 
room. Many of the men were forced to sleep in lofts where there was little 
light, no heat, and where the roofs sometimes leaked; but there were no 
complaints. 

The writer has gone into this matte in detail to show the difficulties 
which confronted the first billeting expedition. Later, many improvements 
were made. Stoves were procured, additional barracks built, and friends 
made, so that toda}' it is hard to find a man in the Battalion who will not 
honestly say that he enjoyed his winter in Mont. It is really an art to make 
oneself comfortable in a billet, and the men were not slow to learn. Five 



22 History of Tiik 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

months after the time of which \vc are speakinj^, you wovild have found this 
same Battalion comfortably settled half an hour after entering a town. 
Moreover, you might have seen men swinging down the street, carrying a 
helmet full of eggs, and if you had asked them, you would probably have 
learned that they had arranged with some French woman for a good dinner 
and a Avarm fire — a result of the advantage of experience, and a knowledge 
of the French language. 

vShortly after arrival at Mont, gas-masks, helmets and machine-guns 
were issued. A and D Companies were further equipped with machine-gun 
carts and mules — it being understood that B and C Companies were to be 
motorized. Then began the work of intensive training. Certain of^cers and 
non-commissioned officers were sent away to school, while the Battalion 
started on a course of instruction which comprised nomenclature, func- 
tioning, drill, range-practice, and barrage problems. The machine-guns 
were of the Hotchkiss model, and their simplicity and dependability were 
at once apparent. Later, Battalion schools were established, where non- 
commissioned officers were taught map-reading and the elements of figuring 
fire-data. 

During this period much of the training was done under instruction of 
of the French. The Battalion was fortunate in having a machine gun com- 
pany of the 162d Regiment of French infantry assigned to it as instructors. 
This Regiment had an enviable reputation, and was decorated with the 
fourragere. The French soldiers took a lively interest in the work of instruc- 
tion, and the Americans were eager to learn. The difficulties of the French 
language were quickly overcome, and there is no doubt that the Battalion 
benefited greatly by the work. After a week or two of drill there were 
various competitions between the French and Americans. The writer can 
remember one race between an American gun-team, and one composed of 
bewhiskered poilus. The idea was to see which team could run one hundred 
yards, and put its gun into position in the shortest time. The Americans 
easily outstripped the Frenchmen as far as the running was concerned, but 
nearly lost the race in getting their guns into position. Afterward an old 
poilu smiled, and said to one of our men, "Ah, but your legs will also be 
stiff after three years in the trenches." 

The months of November, December, and January passed quickly. 
The weather was abominable, and the mud something always to be remem- 
bered; but in spite of these drawbacks the health of the Battalion continued 
to be excellent, and the work progressed rapidly. The men learned to 
operate the guns smoothly and to fire wdth precision. Much time was spent 
in teaching them how to avoid jams that often occurred in the mechanism. 
These were brought about In- artificial means, and then the gun-crews were 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 23 

told to find out what the trouble was and to repair it as quickly as possible. 
Practice on the range at Midrevaux w^as particularly encouraging, and the 
French officers expressed themselves as greatly iinpressed by the shooting 
ability of the Americans. By the end of December practically every man 
was thoroughly familiar with the handling of the Hotchkiss gun. Before 
the month of January was over, it might be said that the Battalion was well 
trained. They were far from veteran troops, but at least each man under- 
stood his gun, which is the essential for a machine-gunner. 

Every effort was made to find a place where indirect fire could be car- 
ried on, but it was impossible to locate a range near Mont where there was 
not danger of ricochets landing in some nearby village. At last, towards the 
end of January, all the machine-guns of the Division were assembled at an 
old French artillery range on the outskirts of the Divisional area, and a 
chance was given to fire an overhead barrage. The machine-guns of the 
Division, 168 in number, were put into action with an interval of five yards 
between each gun. Each Company Commander was given a map showing 
his gun position and the target assigned to his company, and told to calcu- 
late the necessary data. At a given signal all guns opened fire at once. 
Observers gave reports for the proper adjustment of the fire. It was a re- 
markable sight. During the barrage Colonel John Henry Parker, who was 
chiefly responsible for the assembly, drove his automobile back and forth 
under the hail of bullets, thereby conclusively demonstrating to every man 
on the field, that troops could advance with safety, under cover of a barrage 
laid down by machine-guns. As it turned out, this affair was the conclusion 
of training in the Neuf chateau Area. 

At this time a change was made in the organization of the Battalion. 
On January 21, 1918, Companies A and D were assigned to duty with the 
102nd and 103rd Machine Gun Battalions respectively. This left Compan- 
nies B and C to form the 101st Machine Gun Battalion, which was hence- 
forth to be what is known as a divisional battalion. Such a unit is motor- 
ized, and hence a highly mobile reserve at the disposal of division head- 
quarters. It can, however, be attached for duty to any regiment or brigade 
where it is needed, and in such case is subject to the commands of the regi- 
mental or brigade commander. 

THE CHEMIN DES DAMES 

On February 3 orders were issued to the effect that the 26th Division 
would be placed under tactical command of the 11th French Corps for 
" training in trench warfare." Elements of the Division were to go into line 
with elements of the French, and everv battalion and regiment would have 



24 



History of Tiik 10 1st Machine Gun Battalion 









CHLMIK ]^L5 DaKL5 5LCT0TSl 

ScALC I: 153,000 (^Approki m atcuy ) 

Ttioht or Z£>X!. Division b^b^m^b 



J ruin ■■\i'u l-^imland in Fiance" l)\- Kmorsoii (i. Ta\liir. Couiti'sy d lli,u<;lit(in Mifflin Ci 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 25 

opportunity to experience actual lighting conditions face to face with the 
Boche. 

Orders for the 101st Machine Gun Battahon designated the 8th as the 
date of entraining. On the 7th the long-hoped-for motor equipment was 
received. It consisted of about fifty second-hand Ford ambulances. Great 
was the excitement on the day that these Fords were driven over from 
Neuf chateau. Most of them had been used by various organizations in the 
Division, and many were sadly out of repair. Fortunately there were a 
number of men in the unit who had had considerable experience with auto- 
mobiles in civil life, and this now stood them in good stead. During the 
twenty-four hours which followed, wonders were accomplished with new 
spark-plugs, tubes, and bearings, so that every machine would at least run. 

The Battalion moved, by it motor transportation, to Liffol-le-Grand 
on the 8th, where it entrained early the next morning. Braisne was reached 
on the following day. Here the cars and baggage were unloaded, and the 
101st went to the town of Vregny which was to be its reserve station. 

The sector in which the 26th Division now found itself was on the 
famous Chemin des Dames. It comprised a stretch of heights fronting the 
Ailette River and the Oise-Aisne Canal. The French had taken these heights 
by a brilliant stroke in October of the previous year. On the further side of 
the Canal was a corresponding strip of high land where the tracery of the 
German lines could be seen. The sector was admirably suited for coups de 
main, or raids, but because of the strong natural defenses on both sides ard the 
low land between, it did not seem, at that date, a likely place for an attack. 
At the time of the Division's entry on its course of instruction, the place 
was known as a "qtiiet sector." It was well organized, with plenty of good 
dugouts, and a carefully planned system of defense. The Division had 
come there to study trench warfare, and a better place could not have been 
fotmd. The country gave evidence of having been the scene of much hard 
fighting. Vregny was nothing but the shattered remnant of a town on top 
of a hill that had been raked by shell-fire. The road that wound its tortuous 
\va\- up the steep slope of the hill was lined with dugouts and flanked with 
shell-holes. There was not a house that had not been badly smashed. C 
Company was billeted in a large cave and B Company had a barracks with 
some good dugouts comfortably near at hand. Battalion Headquarters was 
located in a house whose four walls were still standing, but the roof had been 
replaced by tar paper. 

As Vregny was a reserve position, some twelve kilometers behind the 
front lines, there was little danger of its being shelled. Nevertheless, all 
unnecessary movement had to be avoided, and a sharp lookout kept for 
hostile planes. Gas guard was established, and strict orders were issued 



26 History of Tiik IOIst Machine Gun Battalion 

that masks be carried at all times. On arrix'al, all (ifly Fords were ])arked 
in an ojjen field; and the writer can well remember the horror of the Battal- 
ion Interpreter, a inan who had seen long service in the French Army, who 
exclaimed, " But they will be seen and we will be shelled!" The fault was 
cjuiekly remedied, and the machines put in a place where they were properly 
camouflaged. It was at Vregny that the Battalion learned its first lesson 
at the Front — "Kec]) out of sight at all times — the enemy are probably 
watching you." 

Soon after the Battalion's arrival, the activity of Boehe aeroplanes was 
made \'ividly apparent. There was a French ol:)servation balloon that used 
to float i^lacidly a short distance from Vregny. In fact it was so close that, 
on a clear day, it was possible to see the observer in the basket. One after- 
noon two Boehe ]3lanes suddenly appeared from nowhere and swooped 
down on the defenseless balloon. No artillery happened to be firing at the 
time, and the rat-tat-tat of the Boche's machine-guns broke the silence. At 
one end of the balloon a puff of smoke appeared and curled lazily against 
the blue sky. The observer was seen to climb out of his basket, balance 
himself for a moment on the step, and then ium|). At almost the same in- 
stant that his parachute broke out, the balloon Inn^st into flames. Observer 
and parachute drifted slowly to the ground, while the great bag crtimpled 
and fell, a mass of fire and black smoke. The hostile planes turned and 
rapidly disappeared in the direction of Gennany. The whole affair lasted 
only a few moments, and was a common incident on the Western Front, 
but it demonstrated how short a time is required for a plane to carry out 
its mission of destruction, and escape. 

On February 16 the first unit from the Battalion took its place in line. 
As a matter of history, and also to show the arrangement of the troops, the 
writer quotes the first field order issued by the 101st Machine Gun Bat- 
talion. 

''Headquarters, 101st M. G. BX. 

France, Feb. 14, 191S. 
Field Orders 
No. 1. 

1. Company B of this Battalion will take its position in line Saturda\- 
evening, Feb. Kith, 1918. Each gun-squad will consist of six privates and 
one corporal. A section will consist of two gun-scjuads, a section sergeant, 
a mechanic and liaison messenger. The company and ])lat()on sergeants and 
liaison men will also be taken and such special grades as may be needed. 

2. Company C will remain at Vregny and will relieve Company B at 
the end of ten days. 

3. Com])any in the lines will participate in the execution of indirect 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 27 

fire in the defense of the sector, and in the work of organization of the posi- 
tion under the direction of Captain Courtois, Machine Gun Officer of the 
61st French Division. 

4. The post of the Battahon Commander will be at Creute D'AUe- 
mant, P. C. Raffeneau, with Captain Courtois. The post of the Command- 
ing Officer, Company B will be at Hill No. 154, (near D'Ailleval, P. C. Isere). 
The post of two machine-gun sections, Company B — ^Group B. — (south- 
east of the Tour de Pinon). One machine-gun section, Company B — Group 
A — (southwest of the Tour de Pinon). Three machine-gun sections. Com- 
pany B — Group D. (near D'Ailleval). These machine-gun sections will be 
joined to the French machine-gun sections. (See the sketch enclosed.) 

5. Reconnaisance will take place on the 16th of February by two 
officers and a section sergeant who will be at Moulin-de-Laffaux on the road 
to Maubeuge at 6.30 A. M. where they will be met by the French guides. 

6. On the evening of the entrance into the sector, the machine-gun 
squads will arrive, at the following time, one kilometer southwest of the 
Moulin-de-Laffaux (on the road to Maubeuge). 

1st Section, Post near D'Ailleval at 18:00 o'clock* 
2nd Section, Post near D'Ailleval at 18 h. 15 
3rd Section, Post near D'Ailleval at 19 h. 30 
1st Section of Group B . at 18 h. 45 

2nd Section of Group B. at 19:00 o'clock 

1st Section of Group A. at 19:15 

French guides will be one kilometer southwest of Moulin-de-Laffaux 
at 17 h. 45. 

The route of the machine-gun sections with post near D'Ailleval will 
be: Moulin-de-Laffaux — the road of the cemetery of Pinon — Hill 146.2. 

The route of the machine-gun sections with post near Tour de Pinon 
will be: Road to Maubeuge — Raperie de L'Ange Gardian — La Haute Pie — 
P. C. Barcelonnette. 

7. Full field equipment will be carried by each man, (2,000 rounds of 
machine-gun ammunition per gun, twenty-one rounds of pistol ammunition 
per man, with twenty-one rounds in reserve, and one day's field rations with 
the necessary kitchen equipment. All supplies and ammunition should be 
equally distributed between the two battery positions, and should be taken 
up on the night of the entrance into the sector. 

8. Supplies and mail will be brought nightly to the gun positions, and 
outgoing mail should be ready to leave by 18:00 o'clock each evening. 



*In the Allied armies the hours were numbered from 1 A. M. to 24 midnight. 



28 History of Tiri'. 101st AIaciiink Gun Battalion 

9. Evacuation of \hv sick and wounded will be attended to by the 
Battalion Surj^eon. 

10. Liaison posts between the Battalion Coinmander and the v^arious 
>^un positions will be maintained by telephone and runners, and for this i)ur- 
pose Headquarters Com])an\- will detail liaison inen of that Company to 
report to the Battalion Commander. Messenger service will be tnaintaincMl 
between Vregny and the post of the Battalion Commander. 

By order of C^aptain Bulkeley*, 

H. W. Mills, 

/,s7 U. Cat'., Adjidani:' 

The posts the Battalion was to occupy were in the support line; both 
those at D'Ailleval and at Tour de Pinon were well organized. There were 
good dugouts, trenches were dry and clean, and the system of defense had 
been carefully planned. There were positions for barrage fire, harrassing 
fire, and direct fire. At the time of which we are speaking, however, the 
work of organization was not entirely complete. Additional dugouts were 
to be constructed and new emplacements inadc. This work was done under 
the supervision of the French, and proved valuable instruction for the men. 

As has been said, the sector was a quiet one. The Boche would always 
shell at certain times every day, but as they nearly always shelled the same 
places, and as everyone became familiar with the hours of their activity, 
there was re^illy little danger of casualties. For instance, at Pinon, they 
would always shell the Tour de Pinon, a poor shattered remnant of a tower 
on top of a hill under which the gun positions were located. It is true that 
the Boche later transferred their attention to CCompany's kitchen, but as 
a rule, their fire was comparati\"ely harmless, as it often is in such sectors. 
During the whole tour of (lut\- tlicre was only one casualty in the Battalion 
— a slight cut from a shell fragment. 

The French proved to be excellent instructors. They impressed u])on 
the men the nece.ssity of keeping out of sight whenever there was the slight- 
est chance of observation. They described the different kinds of gas, and 
]jcrhaps more imjjortant than anything else, showed by example, how to 
accustom oneself to life at the Front. They taught the men to distinguish 
between the whine of a shell that meant danger, and one that would ]jass at 
a safe distance. They did everything in their power to helj) and assist ; rela- 
tions could not have l)een pleasantcr. 

During the dax'time the guns were kci)t in the dugouts, but at night 



•.•\t this tinic Major Howard was allcnditif; (he Hriti.sh M. (i. Scluinl a( Cainicrs 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 29 

they were set up in the barrage emplacements. Each gun was laid on its 
assigned target in direction and elevation — the object being to hold back 
any enemy attack by a fire of "interdiction." A guard of two men was 
posted at each gun, and it was their duty to watch for barrage signals from 
the infantry in the first line of trenches. As soon as they saw a signal, they 
were to open fire. Each American section was placed beside a French sec- 
tion, so that instructors were always at hand to offer advice when needed. 
During the tour of duty, barrages were called for on several occasions, and 
the way the men operated the guns brought forth a compliment from the 
French lieutenant in charge. In addition to the work at barrage em.place- 
ments, there was plenty of opportunity to put over harrassing fire, that is, 
fire on "sensitive points," such as a cross-roads, and assembly centers, 
where there is likely to be congestion of traffic. Its purpose is to worry and 
bother the enemy; to prevent him from using the shortest routes; and to 
delay the movement of rations and supplies. Almost every night a pair of 
guns was detailed to do this work. The firing was done each time from a 
different location in order not to concentrate Boche attentions on any one 
particular patch of ground. Targets were chosen in accordance with reports 
from the Intelligence Department. It was excellent practice — in the first 
place, it gave the officers opportunity to work out indirect fire-data, while 
it gave the men a chance to operate the guns and to adjust jams under the 
excitement of occasional enemy fire; in the second place, there was the prac- 
tice in choosing positions, together with valuable lessons in camouflage from 
our French friends. 

The only front-line work was done at Vauxaillon by a section of B Com- 
pany, which in turn was relieved by a section from C Company. These 
sections were attached to the Machine Gun Coinpany of the 104th Infantry, 
and had positions along the railroad track in front of the Mont des Singes. 
Except for a considerable amount of gas, and occasional bombardment of 
the emplacements, it was an uneventful experience, though the C Company 
gunner will probably always remember the "dud" that struck his tripod. 

It fell to the lot of six guns of B Company to be the first machine-gun 
unit of the Division — and probably the entire A. E. F. — to lay down an 
indirect fire barrage in support of a raid. It is worth while to go into this 
affair in detail, as it will serve to explain what is expected of machine-guns 
in a raid of this kind, and will also throw light on the indirect fire work that 
was later to be done by the Battalion. The purpose of the raid was to take 
prisoners, and thus gain information concerning the enemy. Just across the 
Canal, at the Point E (see map pg. 30) was an advance-post of the Boche. 
Along the railroad cut, at Points C-D was a row of dugouts just behind the 
enemy's front line. The plan called for our artillery to lay down a barrage 



30 



HisniRv OF TiiK lOlsT Machink Gun Battalion 




History or The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 31 

behind the advance-post ; the machine-guns were to fire on the dugouts, as- 
sisting the work of the raiders by keeping the Boche in their holes. A few 
minutes before the barrage opened, the raiding party was to cross the canal, 
seize the advance-post, take as many prisoners as possible, and return. The 
enemy would be completely surprised, as they would not have had the 
warning of a preliminary bombardment; they would be prevented from 
withdrawing because of the barrage in their rear; and it would be impossible 
for them to receive reinforcements. Such a maneuver requires close coopera- 
tion on the part of all arms. Every move must be carried out in strict ac- 
cordance with schedule, or the plan is almost certain to be a complete 
failure with ]jrobable disastrous results. 

The American battery of six guns, reinforced by four French guns, was 
set up along the edge of woods at Point A-B. All watches were carefully 
synchronized. The infantry raiders arrived at their objective just as the 
artillery opened up, while the machine-guns began their barrage five min- 
utes later. The fire was sustained for twelve minutes. The Boches were 
taken completely off guard; we suffered no ca.sualities ; and the results were 
very satisfying — twenty-four prisoners, including one officer and a war dog. 
It was a valuable experience as a first lesson in the coordination of various 
branches of the service. 

The tour of duty at the Chemin des Dames was concluded on the 18th 
of March. As has been said, it was a sector admirably adapted for instruc- 
tion ; and there was not an officer or man in the organization who was not 
greatly benefited by the work. 

THE TOUL vSECTOR 

After its relief from the Chemin des Dames the 26th Division was 
ordered to the Fourth Training Area. It was understood that the Division 
was to have a month's rest, draw new equipment, and then prepare to go in- 
to the line again. The Secretary of War, the Honorable Newton D. Baker, 
was in France at that time, and it was planned to have the Twenty-Sixth 
give an extensive maneuver for his benefit, while it was en route to the train- 
ing area. Owing to news of the German break-through, however, plans were 
changed. This was a time when all available troops were needed in line. Ac- 
cordingly, the Division was placed at the disposal of the 32d French Corps, 
and was ordered to take over the sectors then occupied by the 1st American 
Division and the 10th French Colonials. 

The 101st Machine Gun Battalion entrained at Mercin-Pommiers 
on March 18th, detraining at Brienne-le-Chateau. It proceeded to the 
Toul Sector by motor, taking the following route: Fontaine, Colombey- 
les-deux-Eglises, Vignory, St. Blin, La Grande Harcourt. The latter place, 



32 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Baj 



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History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 33 

which was to be the Battalion headquarters, was reached on the 1st of 
Aprih 

The Toul Sector extended froin Bois Brule to the east of Remieres 
Wood. Much of the front line was composed of marshes and tangled under- 
growth. The line of resistance had been established along Beaumont 
Ridge, while the reserve system of defense was drawn up along the general 
line, Mandres-aux-quatre-Tours — Bois Chanot — Raulecourt. The enemy 
held high ground on their side. In fact, the famous Mont Sec dominated 
the sector, and practically every town was under constant observation from 
this strong-point. La Grande Harcourt, better known to the men as "The 
Swamp," was a patch of woods in low-lying ground on the eastern edge of 
the Foret de La Reine. Near the road between Menil-la-Tour and Mandres, 
and offering excellent concealment for the trans]jortation, it served the ])ur- 
pose of a reserve position admirably. 

On the day of arrival, the First and Second Platoons of C Company 
were ordered into forward reserve positions — the First Platoon going to 
Raulecourt and the Second to Mandres. Guns were not to be put into the 
emplacements there except in case of attack. B Company and the Third 
Platoon of C Company were held at La Grande Harcourt in readiness to 
take up emergency posts in the Bois Chanot. Although Mandres, Chanot 
and Raulecourt were reserve positions, their importance must not be under- 
estimated. In case of a heavy general attack, it would be impossible to hold 
Beaumont Ridge, and these places would necessarily constitute the last 
line of resistance, to be held at all costs. 

There was much work to be done in completing the organization of the 
sector. The system of defense, particularly in the reserve line, had been 
outlined — but that was all. There were dugouts and emplacements to be 
constructed at all three positions. The work went on well. Good fields of 
fire were to be found at most places, and the defense was organized accord- 
ingly. Mandres had its share of shelling every night, but at Raulecourt it 
was persistently quiet. The men had good quarters, plenty to eat, and 
enough work to keep themselves in condition. The weather had begun 
to grow milder and there was less rain, although heavy mud was still a 
great annoyance in some places, especially in "The Swamp" where duck- 
boards had to be used on paths through the woods. All agreed, however, 
that it was a "good war." 

The first ten days in the sector passed uneventfully. Then came the 
attack on the Bois Brule. On this occasion an opportunity was offered to 
demonstrate the value of a mobile machine-gun unit. At three o'clock on 
the afternoon of the 12th, an order was received from Division Headquar- 
ters to send eight guns to reinforce the 104th Infantry at Hill 322 at Bois 



34 History of Tiik 101st ArvciiiNK Gun Battalion 

Brule. B Company pnn'ided the ci^ht j^un-squads, and by six o'clock they 
had reported at the cross-roads near Etang de Ronval, after traveling a 
distance of some twenty-five kilometers. Hard fighting had been going on 
for a day and a night. The Bois Brule marked the extreme left of the Divi- 
sion sector. While it has been said that the greater part of the Toul Sector, 
particularl>' the front line, was composed of low, marshy ground, never- 
theless, at this point the Bois Brule occupied a spur of the Meuse heights 
which jutted in from the westward. This was a sensitive point, as it marked 
the dividing line between the Twenty-Sixth and the 10th French Colonials. 
The Boche held slightly higher ground. By the time that B Company's 
guns arrived, the French had been forced to fall back, leaving exposed the 
left flank of the 104th Infantry. It was a bad situation, but the 104th had 
held its two strong-points — Bois Brule and Hill 322 — with a determination 
that has won it fame. 

The original mission of B Company's guns was to la\' down a fire of 
interdiction on the Boche trenches; but as conditions in the front line were 
unknown and as one platoon of the 103rd Machine Gun Battalion had not 
been heard from since the start of the fight, they were ordered into the front 
trenches to reinforce the infantry with direct fire. One platoon went to 
Bois Brule, the other to Hill 322. They went up, that night, under a heavy 
bombardment which continued throughout the morning. But the Boche 
had finished. Outside of one or two half-hearted attempts, there were no 
more attacks The two platoons remained in position four days, during 
which time they endured much heavy shelling from trench mortars. They 
were then relieved by the 103rd Machine Gun Battalion, and returned to 
La Grande Harcourt. 

On April 20 came the Battle of Seicheprey. The Battalion's part in this 
historic event was of but minor importance. During the intense bombard- 
ment of high explosive and gas which preceded the attack, the Second 
Platoon of C Company at Mandres suffered the first real casualties that 
occured in the Battalion. Their guns were put into the emergency positions; 
and the Company Commander made a reconnaissance for a barrage loca- 
tion for his remaining guns. The rest of the Battalion was held on the alert 
at Harcourt. For a while it looked as if the Battalion might be needed, but 
the counter-attack of the 102nd Infantry drove the cncm\' ovit of Seicheprey 
and recovered all the ground that had been lost. 

On April 26, eight gun-squads from B Company were sent to take u]) 
barrage positions in the woods southwest of St. Agnant. Information had 
been acquired from prisoners that the enemy intended to make a raid that 
night, between Bois Brule and Hill 322. It was the mission of these squads 
to lav down a barrage of interdiction on the enem\' trenches. Their orders 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 35 

were to open fire on signal from the infantry, and to cease fire at the same 
time as the artillery. As it turned out, the raid did not take place until the 
following night. Captain Bulkeley, company commander, was in the 
front line at the time the barrage opened, and the men had the satisfaction 
of knowing, through his observation, that the fire was extremely effective, 
and together with the artillery, caught the Boche just as he was coming 
over, and broke up the raid. The map on page 36 will show the lines of the 
barrage. The men remained there near St. Agnant four days, during which 
time they were called upon for a barrage on several occasions. On the 30th 
one section was relieved ; and the remaining six squads relieved part of the 
103rd Machine Gun Battalion in positions east of Fort Liouville. They 
spent two quiet days there and were then ordered back into reserve. 

The Battalion, minus Company C was ordered, on April 30, from La 
Grande Harcourt to Jouy-sous-les-Cotes. The Third Platoon of B Com- 
pany relieved the First Platoon of C Company at Raulecourt on the same 
day. The Second platoon of C Company at Mandres had been relieved by 
the Third on the 27th. 

The month of May passed uneventfully. On the 21st, the divisional 
sector was moved to the eastward. This brought the right of the sector a 
kilometer west of Limey and the left just west of Bouconville. The Brichau- 
sard and vSt. Agnant Sectors were turned over to the 32nd French Division, 
while the 69th French held the terrain on the right. 

Battalion Headquarters was moved from Jouy back to Harcourt on 
the same day, and two platoons of B Company took over positions in the 
Bois de la Hazelle on the day following. Although the guns were a thousand 
meters or more from the trenches of the enemy, they were in front of our 
Hne. The plan of defense called for advance-posts of infantry in front of 
the Bois de la Hazelle during the night only. In the daytime these posts 
were withdrawn. In case of a night attack, their orders were to fall back to 
a line of resistance abreast the machine-gun nests. Although the fields of 
fire in front of the guns left something to be desired from a machine-gun- 
ner's point of view, the positions were cleverly organized. Woods offered 
excellent concealment for the men, saving them from the dangers of regu- 
lated shell-fire; and dugouts and trenches were well made. In addition to 
their fields of direct fire, three of the guns were laid on indirect barrage 
lines, which, in conjunction with other machine-guns of the Division, would 
assure a heavy fire of interdiction in case of enemy attack. During the tour 
of duty, barrages were several times signaled for. On one occasion in parti- 
cular, the enemy raid on Humbert Plantation near Flirey, it is certain, from 
reports, that this fire was extremely effective. The platoons of B Company 
were relieved by two from C Company on the 12th of June. Except for 



36 



History of Thk 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 37 

occasional gas attacks, the time spent at Hazelle Wood was comparatively 
pleasant. 

On the 31st of May a raid in force was ordered on the line of trenches 
lying west of Richecourt, known as the Camp de Moulin. This raid is of 
particular interest, as it was the first of any size to be planned and carried 
out by the Division. The object was to capture prisoners, material and doc- 
uments; to destroy the enemy's dugouts and machine-gun emplacements; 
and to lower his morale. Three hundred men of the 101st Infantry vokm- 
teered for the attack. They were to be supported by artillery, machine- 
guns and engineers. The mission of the artillery was to lay down a rolling 
barrage in front of the advancing infantry ; to lay a box-barrage around the 
sector of operations; and to perform the necessary counter-battery work 
and destructive fire. The engineers were to accompany the infantry, for the 
purpose of blowing up wire and destroying as much of the enemy's works 
as possible. Machine-guns were ordered to protect the right flank of the 
sector of operations by a heavy fire of interdiction on the trenches north- 
east of the left bank of the Rupt de Mad, on the salient called Le Sac, and on 
the trenches between Le Sac and Lahayville. The work of the machine- 
guns was directed by the Commander of the 102nd Machine Gun Battalion. 
The Third Platoon of C Company of the 101st was placed at his disposal. 
The target assigned to the C Company guns was a section of trenches be- 
tween Lahayville and Richecourt. The barrage began at two o'clock in the 
morning and continued for the greater part of an hovir. The results of the 
raid were rather disappointing, as far as taking prisoners was concerned. 
Few Boche could be found in the raided area — they had evidentlv with- 
drawn to some point in rear of their third line before the barrage opened. 
The raid was very satisfactory, however, as an instance of effective co- 
ordination between different branches of the service, and of the precision 
with which each branch could carry out its particular mission. 

The month of June passed, taken up with the regular routine work 
incidental to the duties at Bois Hazelle, Mandres, Raulecourt and Harcourt. 
On the 23rd came the order that the Di\dsion would be relieved bv the 154th 
French and 82nd American Divisions; and it became known that the 
Twenty-Sixth was to go into another sector. The next day C Company's 
guns at Mandres were relieved. The platoon of B Company at Raulecourt 
had already been relieved by a platoon of the 103rd Machine Gun Bat- 
talion. The 101st, minus two C Company platoons at Bois Hazelle, moved 
from La Grande Harcourt to Foug on June 25. The C Company men were 
taken out two days later and rejoined the unit at that place. 

At Toul the Battalion had a chance to work out for itself what it had 
learned from the French on the Chemin des Dames. There had been enough 



38 TTisroKV ok Tiik lOlsi' Ar\(-iriNE Gun Ba it ai.ion 

activity to sliow what R-al (li^luin^ is. TIu- nu'ti wcrr in llic line a larjjje part 
of tlu" time, and so liad an o])])ortunit_\' to further aeeustom themselves to 
trench life. Although the Division held a wide front, and had taken ])art 
in tlnw battles, the time spent at Toul must he rej.;arded as an ad\'anecd 
course of instnu-tion. it >;a\'e excellent prei)aration for the aetixitit's that 
were to follow. 

(^llA'ri'LM'-TlllKRkV 

June 2U saw the 2()lh Dix'ision entraininj; for a new area. TIh- lOlst 
Machine (lun Battalion went by motor to Coulombs, following the route: 
\'()id Vitry-le-Francois. Soon after arrival at Coulombs it became known 
that the Division would relieve the 2nd American Division in the sector 
wt'st of Chateau-Thierrw ( )n JuIn' (1 the Battalion left Coulombs and re- 
lie\ed the Dix'isional Battalion of the 2nd Division in the Bois Oosjean, a 
woods about a kilometer east of Montreuil-aux-Lions. 

The new sei-tor was i-alled by the French J\is Fiiii (unlinished), and 
was well named. It marked the ])oint where the Germans had been stopped 
on their last mad rush for Paris. The 2nd Division holds the credit for hav- 
in,^ t'heekt'd this advance. It had dug itself in as best it could mider pressure 
of continual (in-; but the line of resistance was little more than a series of 
rille-pits. There beinj.^ no duji,outs, the only protection the troojjs had from 
the constant harassinj^ fire of the enemy consisted of individvial holes hastily 
scooped in the ground, and the concealment ofTered by ni.uTierous patches 
<if woods which dotted the sector. The woods were used as strong-points 
whic-h in most cases controlled stretches of open wheat fields. While in 
ordinary sectors there are connecting trenches between the sui)])t)rt and the 
front line, at Chateau-Thierr\- a i^ath through stantling wheat was the best 
line of communication to be found. If the Germans saw as many as two 
men thc\- "snipcMl" at them with artiller\-. Movement in the open during 
the daxtime was out of the ([ucstion. The Yankee Division at last had come 
to an "actixe" sector. The woods northwest of Lvicy-le-Bocage bounded 
the left of the Divisional sector, while the right was just east of Vaux. Our 
troojjs held fairly high ground except at the extreme right of the sector, 
where the Boche occujiied the ujiper half of Hill 204, a strategic i)oiin l\ing 
between \'aux and Cliateau-Thierry. 

At the time of rc>licf of the 2nd Division everything was planned for 
defense. In case of an alert the 101st Machine Gun Battalion was to hurry 
to one of three points — La Voie du Chatel, Vertelet Farm, and Les Aul- 
nois Bontemps Fann. These places were on high plateau-land and olTered 
excellent fields of fire. They were part of the second line of defense. The 
Bois Grosiean, where the Battalion was stationed, being on the main road 



40 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

to Chatcau-Thifrry, made a good central ]3oint for this scheme of defense. 
With motors it would be easy to quickly reach any of these posts. 

Contrary- to all expectation, the Battalion was not shelled at Grosjean. 
Screened 1)\' the woods — a certain amount of movement was possible in 
daylight, and the time passed rather peacefully. Although shelters were 
dug shortly after arrival, many of the men slept in pup-tents. After re- 
maining at this station for about ten days, the Battalion was ordered to 
another reserve position in the Bois Bczu M'cst of Bezu-le-Guery, where 
similar conditions were found. 

At about this time Captain Bulkeley was placed in full cominand of 
the Battalion. Since the Chemin des Dames, Major Howard had been 
working in G-3 at Division Headquarters, as Division Machine Gun 
Officer, necessarily leaving much of the direction of the Battalion to Cap- 
tain Bulkeley, the senior company commander. However, it was not until 
July that command was officially turned over. Captain Bulkelc}' 's majority 
came in the following month. 

As has been said, during the first days of July our attitude was one of 
defense. A swath was cut through the woods as far back as the line Bezu — 
Montrcuil. This was reinforced by a solid palisade built of logs, saplings 
and barbed wire. The line of defense was provided with machine-gun nests, 
and the sector assigned to the 101st Machine Gun Battalion extended to a 
point four kilometers southeast of Montreuil. The idea of using the line 
Voie du Chatel — Vertelet Farm — Aulnois Bontemps was given up in the 
second week of July. The great Boche attack was constantly expected. 
German propaganda had made it known that the drive would be of a mag- 
nitude never before seen on the Western Front. As the days passed, the 
suspense increased. Finally, on the evening of July 14, the whole Allied 
line was warned that the attack would take place on the following morning. 
The Battalion received the "alert" from Divisional Headquarters late that 
afternoon. The cars were lined uj), guns packed, and every man was ready 
to move at a moment's notice. The "alert " continued until morning, when 
it was learned that the assault had broken further to the eastward. 

Two da\'s later word came that the Division would attack on the 
following morning. At the time, no one suspected that this was part of an 
operation that would extend along the whole Front. It was known that the 
objectives for the next day were Torcy, Belleau, and the railroad track 
beyond — that was all. As everyone knows today, the Twenty-Sixth was to 
act as the pivcjt in Foch's great closing mox-ement on the Manic Salient. 
The direction of attack was to be northeasterly, which meant that the 
Division's left flank would have to advance ahead of its right, thus necessi- 
tating/ close liaison with the P""n'nch (lix'isions on both flanks. 



The History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 41 

The Battalion was to support the 103rd Infantr>' in the woods north- 
east of Lucy-le-Bocage. The night of the 17-18th of July was one to be 
remembered. It was one of those pitch-black, stormy nights which occa- 
sionally come in summer, when it is impossible to see a foot in front of one's 
face. The sky was continually lighted up by artillery or flashes of lightning, 
giving brief glimpses of the road packed with troops, caissons, and supply- 
wagons. Our car drivers worked their way along as best they could. At the 
cross-roads on the Bezu — Marigny road, west of Voie du Chatel, they were 
definitely blocked. The guns were taken from the Fords, and the men went 
forward on foot into the woods northwest of Lucy, arriving there about 
2 o'clock on the morning of the 18th. During the attack which followed, 
the Battalion remained in support. All the objectives were carried. On the 
next night the entire Battalion was employed in carrying rations and ammu- 
nition to the troops holding Torcy, and the cars also took supplies to Bel- 
Icau. This work was done under heavy shell-fire. During the day of July 19 
the Battalion remained in support, and in the evening was returned to the 
Bois Bezu. 

Orders received on the morning of July 21 sent the Battalion in pur- 
suit of the retreating enemy, with Trugny designated as the objective. The 
Battalion advanced at 11 :30 by way of Bouresches, Grande Picardie Fann, 
and vSacerie Woods. Its purpose was to close with the enemy and hinder his 
withdrawal. 

The roads were badly torn by shell-fire, and in places, it was necessary 
to lift the Fords over craters. On reaching the western edge of the Sacerie 
Woods, the Battalion left the cars and continued on foot. At the railroad 
cut, beyond the Chateau-Thierry — Bethune road, it was learned from 
infantrymen that the enemy were somewhere in the woods to the east. 
Accordingly, B Company took the left and C Company the right of the 
Bretcuil Farm road running east from La Sacerie, and pushed on ahead of 
the infantry. The advance was made without meeting any resistance, 
except for desultory shelling, until the woods and crest southwest of Trugny 
were reached. xA.t this point fire was drawn from machine-guns apparently 
concealed in the woods behind Trugny. There was good observation from 
the northeastern point of the Bois de Bretcuil. Wheat fields rolled down to 
the road which passed through the town. Behind the town a field ran back 
with rather a steep slope, to the Bois de Barbillon. In the middle of this 
field was a small, square patch of trees in which a inachine-gun nest was 
evidently located — in fact, it was possible to see one of the emplacements. 
A search through field glasses revealed two or three others. No movement 
was visible in the town itself. The situation plainly showed that the enemy 
had withdrawn his infantry and had left well-placed machine-guns to cover 



42 HisTOKV OF Thk 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

his retreat. Company C remained in the woods south of the town, \\-hile 
B Company worked its way to a strip of underbrush some 200 meters from 
the Bois de Breteuil. From this position it would have been possible to lay 
down, in support of the infantry, an effective direct overhead fire on the 
hostile guns. By this time the infantry had come up ; but instead of attack- 
ing that afternoon, the Regimental Commander postponed the assault 
until morning. It was clear that, for the moment, the Boche held a strong 
position, and it would have been costly to spend that night in Trugny. The 
Battalion was withdrawn to the infantry line in Bois de Breteuil where it 
went into bivouac. 

Early the next morning the two companies supported a battalion of 
the 102nd Regiment in an attack on Trugny. The machine-gunners were 
to protect the infantry's left flank. The two companies advanced to a point 
which controlled the road leading into Trugny, and the guns were put into 
"battery". The attack failed, however, so the Battalion was returned to 
its former post, and shortly after, C Company was sent through the woods 
to reinforce Major Rau's battalion before Trugny. 

Later in the morning B Company took part in an attack on Epieds. 
Here was encountered much the same sort of problem as at Trugny. The 
ground sloped down to the town; and the Boche held control of the slope 
with carefully concealed machine-guns and artillery. B Company was 
ordered to form the last wave behind the infantry. The first part of the 
advance was made through standing wheat, and went well ; but as soon as 
the infantry started down the slope toward Epieds, they met with extremely 
heavy casualties, and were forced to withdraw. A section of B Company 
went into fire-action and effectively engaged one of the enemy machine- 
gun nests; but the attack, like that on Trugny, was a failure, and all troops 
were withdrawn to the old line. 

The reason for the failure of these attempts was chiefly owing to lack 
of proper artillery sup]3ort — the advance had been so rapid that it was im- 
possible for the artillery to kee]3 up with the more mobile units. Machine- 
guns are of little use in the actual business of attacking. They are heavy 
to maneuver and are incapable of neutralizing other machine-guns, except 
by inflicting casualties on the crews. But in defense they are everything, 
as was so well shown by the German opposition at Trugny and Epieds. 
Nevertheless, it is of the utmost importance that machine-guns should 
follow in .support of advancing infantry in order that, after objectives are 
taken, they may consolidate the positions against counter-attack — a task 
for which they are admirably fitted. By afternoon of the 22nd the artillery 
reached a line from which it could deliver an effective barrage. The Boche 
machine-guns were neutralized and the objectives were soon captured. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 43 

During the day of July 22 the BattaHon's Fords, acting as ambulances, 
did very valuable work in evacuating many wounded of the Division. On 
the evening of the same day, the Battalion was relieved, and returned to 
Sacerie Wood. While accomplishing the relief it was heavily shelled in the 
road near Champluisant Farm — B Company suffering severe casualties. 

The Battalion was encamped in Sacerie Wood until the 24th, when 
orders were received to act as "independent cavalry," and to push on to the 
Jaulgonne road. The roads were found to be much congested. Four lines 
of traffic were moving forward at the same time, making it almost im- 
possible for the motor train to proceed. French artillery, American artillery, 
rolling kitchens, trucks, staff cars, and supply-wagons of all sorts were 
pressed together hub to hub. The Battalion's route lay through Bezuet, 
Epieds, and Courpoil. At the cross-roads in Epieds there was a long delay, 
but finally the train managed to work its way through the jam and reached 
Courpoil. To the east lay the Foret de Fere, and just beyond it the objec- 
tive — the Fere-Jaulgonne road. A sharp break to the eastward brought the 
two companies to a point in the Foret de Fere, just north of Grange Marie 
■Farm. The congestion on the roads had caused much delay, and by the 
time this place was reached it was seven o'clock. Word came from the 51st 
Brigade that the advance was to halt for that night, so men and officers 
bivouacked in the edge of the woods. At dawn the Battalion was heavily 
shelled, resulting in inany casualties in C Company. The next morning the 
Battalion was withdrawn to the Bois de la Comune, and later in the day 
was relieved and returned to Sacerie Wood, ending its jiarticipation in the 
Chateau-Thierry drive. 

At Chateau-Thierry the Battalion had its first taste of open warfare. 
For the first time, the men knew what it was to go for a long period without 
food, to pursue an enemy whose exact location was unknown, and to biv- 
ouac every night without the friendly protection of trenches. This kind of 
fighting was an entirely new experience. More was learned in the short time 
between the 18th and 26th than could possibly have been taught by years 
of maneuvers. Below is the comment on the action, made by the Battal- 
ion Commander in an official report. 

"The pursuit of the enemy was appreciably delayed by his skillful use 
of machine-guns and minenwerfer, there being little enemy infantry left 
for the rear-guard action. If the retreating infantry is to be pressed closely, 
an immediate and effective method of destroying these machine-guns and 
minemverfer must be employed, or the infantry will be able to withdraw 
practically unmolested, except for such artillery and aeroplane fire as can 
be brought to bear on it. This undoubtedly proved true in the action 
July 18-26. 



44 History ok Thk 101 st M.\f'HiNE Gun Battalion 

Machine-guns, unsu])])orled, cannot l)c effectively employed against 
machine-gun nests, and at best, acting in conjunction with the infantry, 
can only neutralize the enemy fire and possibly put an occasional gun out 
of action by inflicting casualties on the crew. These machine-gun nests 
must be located quickly and accurately by patrols, and a destructive fire 
from the artillery be l)rought to bear on them. Thirty-seven mm. or even 
a 75, accomjjanying the infantry could rapidly and effectively deal with 
these nests. Small tanks would also soon put them out of action. 

The importance of liaison and cooperation between the various arms 
and adjacent divisions was clearly deinonstrated in this action, and too 
much attention cannot be paid to this point in training and action. 

The ]3resent motorized machine-gun battalion with its present motor 
cqui])ment can he moved long distances behind the lines and almost up to 
the forward infantry line, but once arrived at the point where it is necessary 
to go on foot, the mobility ceases and it is obviously impossible to push out 
ahead of the infantry in cars, unless a different type of car is ])rovided, 
]:)referably an armored truck." 

The Division carried its last objective on the 2Gth of July. The Bat- 
talion remained in Sacerie Wood until the 29th, when the Di\'ision, minus 
its artillery, was moved to the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Area. 

REFITTING AND TRAINING 

The lOlst was l)illete(l at Courtaron, a small town near Buzancy, 
having arrived there on the 2nd of August. There followed ten days of 
greatly appreciated rest. Officers and non-commissioned officers were given 
48-hour leaves to visit Paris. It is probable that the entire Battalion would 
have had the same ])rivilege, if it had not started on the 13th to a new 
training area near Chatillon-sur-Seine. 

Reaching its destination on the loth, the Battalion was comfortably 
billeted in the town of Etrochey. Here necessary new equipinent was drawn, 
and a scheduleof vigorous training carried out. Each day was taken U]) with 
close-order drill, machine-gun exercises, and mancu\-ers. E\'ery effort was 
made to gain the precision so essential to a well-regulated, disciplined 
organization. After a long period in the lines, such a course of training be- 
comes imperative. Besides the drilling, time was found for baseball. The 
Battalion develo])cd a good team, and several games were pla},'ed with 
rival outfits, 'i'he month of August passed quickly and i)lcasantly. 

Till': SAIXT-MIIIIEL SALIENT 

The Dix'ision was ordered, August 28, to the area north of Chaumont- 
sur-Aire. Headquarters were established at Bcnoit-X'aux. 'I'hc 10 1st 



46 TTisTOKY OF Tm: lOlsr Machine Gun Battalion 

Machine Gun Battalion was to camp in the woods two kilometers south of 
that place. It left Etrochey on August 31, and arrived at its destination on 
September 2. Four days later came the order sending the Division to relieve 
the 2nd French Division, Cavalerie a Pied, in the Rupt sector. All moves 
were made by night. On the 6th the Battalion bivouacked in a wood 
near the town of Woimbey, and on the following night moved into some old 
French shacks in the Rax'iii (rAml)l()n\'illc. 

Beyond a doubt, the sector was in preparation for an offensive. Every 
night the roads were choked with traffic. New pieces of artillery were put 
into position, among them many heavy guns, ranging from 155's to huge 
railway pieces. Activity was evident on all sides. The fact that the country 
was thickly wooded favored these preparations. Some of the roads were so 
heavily overhung b\- trees, or hidden by hills, that a certain amount of 
circulation was possible, which would otherwise ha\-e been out of the ques- 
tion dviring the daytime. 

The sector was l)oun(le(l l)y Les Eparges on the left and the Bois 
Loclont on the right. In the early days of the war, the Germans had swept 
across the Wa?r\^e Plain, seizing the heights of the Meuse, and driving a 
Avedgc down to Saint Mihiel. As at that time the French were forced to 
concentrate all their available troops on the Marne, at Verdun, and at Toul, 
the enemy met with little resistence and easily gained the strategic ground 
about Les Eparges. The French had lost man\' lives in trying to regain this 
territory. This is ]jarticularly true of the sector now opposite the 26th 
Division. The Boche had a strong scheme of defence nmning back "in 
depth" through tlie l^\)rest of Montague, and there was every reason to 
believe that the}' were ])repared to put up a \'ery determined resistance. 

The date of attack was set for the 12th of vSeptember. The following 
quotation from an order gi\-cs tlie objectives for the first day: 

"4. Rale of Advance. 

The infantry will ach'ance at the rate of 100 meters in four minutes, 
from the parallel of departure to the \'aux — St. Remy road, where it will 
halt for one-half hour to reform organizations; when it will continue to 
advance at the same rate to the general line Cote 381 — high ground south 
of Ravin de CoUignon — Dommartin. It will halt on this line one-half hour 
to re-form organizations, and continue at the rate of 100 meters in three 
minutes to the first day's objectives (Dompierre -Longeau Farm road)". 

The 103rd Infantry was assigned to the left, the 104th to the center 
and the 101st to the right. The lOlst Machine Gun Battalion and the 102nd 
Infantry fonned tlu" Divisional Rcser\'e. A short, but extremeh- intense 
artillerv i)rei)aration, i)reeeded the attack. By 11 A. M. all the first day's 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 47 

objectives had been carried. That afternoon the 102nd Infantry passed 
through the 101st Infantry, and the 101st Machine Gun Battalion was 
ordered up in support. The BattaHon went forward in its cars as far as the 
Ravin de France. Beyond this point it was impossible for motor transporta- 
tion to go. The cross-roads had been heavily mined; and a great crater lay 
where once the road had been. The guns were unloaded from the cars, and 
the advance continued on foot. Liaison was established with the 102nd In- 
fantry on the Grande Tranchee de Calonne, a few hundred meters beyond 
the first day's objectives. By this time it was 8 P. M. After a rest of perhaps 
an hour, verbal orders were received from the Commanding General to 
"push on to Vigneulles." 

That march through the woods was never to be forgotten. The road 
led straight through enemy country. On either side were the depths of a 
forest of which nothing was known. Foot-steps were heard in the woods, 
showing the presence of the enemy on either side. As a matter of fact, sev- 
eral prisoners were taken during the march ; and the next day the infantry 
rounded up several hundred of them in the Foret de la Montague. Fortu- 
nately they were thoroughly disorganized, and offered no resistance to the 
march. By 3 :30 the next morning the Battalion had come out of the Forest 
into sight of the Plain. The Woevre Valley lay before us like a great sea. As 
far as the eye could reach, it was dotted with burning villages, showing that 
the enemy had tried to destroy as much as possible in his hasty retreat. 
Occasionally an ammunition dump would flare up, lighting the whole sky. 
The march through the Forest was a terrible ordeal for the men, heavily 
laden as they were, but they accomplished it splendidly. After leaving the 
Forest, and taking shelter in some woods east of Vigneulles, until liaison was 
established with the 102nd Infantry, the Battalion entered the town at 
5 :30. The march had lasted for twelve hours, and eighteen kilometers had 
been covered. Only one man of the whole Battalion failed to come through. 

At ten o'clock that morning the 1st Division, which had attacked from 
the right of the Salient, joined the Twenty-Sixth in Vigneulles. The great 
pocket which had extended into France for four years was definitely cut off. 
A line of outposts was established, and the day spent in rounding up pris- 
oners. The Battalion remained on duty at Vigneulles mitil the next day, 
when it was relieved and ordered into reserve at Seuzey. 

The attack on the Saint-Mihiel Salient was a tremendous success. The 
Boche had been taken by surprise and forced to retire, leaving behind him 
great quantities of material. In the course of the attack the 26th Division 
alone took 2,400 prisoners. 

As a result of the Battalion's march, the following letter of commenda- 
tion was received from General Edwards : 



48 History of 'rm: lOlsr Maciiixe Gun Ba itai.ion 

Headquarters Jdl/i Division 
American l-lxpeditioiiary Forces 
Fra)ice 
30 Sepl., l.'HS. 

"From: Di\'ision Commander, 
To: Commandint:; Officer, 1 01 si M. G. Bn. 

Subjecl: Comnu'iulalion of your C\)mnian(l. 

1, In llie rechu'lion of ilu- Si. Mihicl Salient on Se])t. r2th, 13th, and 
l-llli, ihis Dix'ision ])la\'e(l an inii)ortani ])art. ( )nr elTorls were crowned 
with snci'css, and we ha\'e reeei\'ed onr reward in the knowledi;e that onr 
superior c~oninianders are a])])reeiati\"e of om" elTorls. 

2. \'our Battalion received orders to proceed to Vi^nciilles in support 
of tlu' l()2nd Infantrw You accomplished your mission. Your pcrfoiTnance 
would hax'c been credilaMe had \-ou been able to i)roeeed the entire distance 
by motor transi)ortation. Owinjj; to the condition of the roads in the enemy 
country, making them imi)assable for whei'l transportation, you foimd it 
imi)ossible to proceed. Yon did not ask for orders. You did not hesitate. 
Ytmr men cheerfull\- marched the entire tlistance, carrying; their heavy 
machine-guns and amnumition through a strange country, in the blackness 
of the night, for a])i>roximatel\- cighletMi kilometers, arri\ang shortly after 
the infanlrw \'our achievement is worth}- of commendation. 

;>. 1 congratulate you, and through you, the othcers and men of your 
command for \-our energy and persc\-erance. vSuch deeds prove you worthy 
of y(un' New luigland torcbears. You ha\"e shctwn the sjiirit which makes 
me i)roud to command the \'ank(.\' Dix'ision. 

C. R. l^^DWARDS. 

M ajor CicneraL 
CoDiDunidini^." 

During the three weeks which followed, the Battalion remained in 
reser\'c in a raxinc west of vScuzey. The Division took o\-er the Trox'on 
Sector, and carried on \arions extensi\-e raids against the enemy, notably 
that on Marcheville; but the 101 st was not called upon to participate. At 
the end of the first week in October the Division was relie\'ed and sent to 
Yerdun. The I^attalion mo\-ed, i)n the Sth of Octtiber, to the Caserne 
Beveavi, a barracks on the ontskirts of X'crdnn. 

Till-: Ml-:rSl-:-ARGONNE OFFENSIYE. 

A week later came the order for the Twenty-Sixth to relie\'c the 18th 
French Division in the sector northeast of Saniogneux. This sector had 
alwavs been extremeh' acli\\\ At this time the Allies wcm^c inishini:- the 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



49 



MEU3L - A-^-QONNL OTrilHSlVE. 

ScALC I : I 5 3,0 OO CApproximatei-y') 

SZ-CtOTL. K>OUKDftTl.lt-6 A — T^ 

Like. Ottopii.* Zb'a l»viS)OH Oct 16"^ •■■■«■■ 

Lmt OCCUTlt-B 2fcT» XHTlilOH KOV. II'' MMIM^^ 




From "New England in France" by Emerson G. Taylor. Courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Co. 



50 History of Tiik 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

Bochc throuj^hout the whole Western Front. It was imperative for the 
enem\' to hold the ground east of the Meuse in order to permit his retreat 
from the territory between the Argonne Forest and the coast. He was pre- 
pared to hold his positions north of Verdun at all costs, and had massed a 
great amount of artillery, together with many of his best troops along this 
part of the Front. The pivot had again been assigned to the 26th Division. 
The Division's task was to be one of "active defense." This entailed the 
wearing out of the enemy and the capture of positions which would assure 
control of the Heights of the Meuse, and hence the Woevre Plain. The 
terrain was particularly difficult. The sector was hilly, and was filled with 
ravines and valleys registered to a nicety by the Boche artillery. The only 
road to the front line was under continuous shell-fire, and led through a long 
vallc}' which was invariably filled with gas. There was no adequate shelter 
for the reserve positions, so the troops occupying them were forced to live 
under canvas in the open fields. The back areas were shelled consistently, 
and altogether, it was a very "active sector." 

The 101st Machine Gun Battalion went into reserve in a line of 
abandoned trenches near the cross-roads northeast of Vacherauville. The 
kitchens and train were established at Bras. The position at the cross- 
roads was under shell-fire from the long-range guns of the eneiny. On the 
right lay the pitted slope of the historic Cote du Poivre, and away to the 
northwest could be seen the Mort Homme. The town of \'acherauville was 
a heap of ruined masonry which occasionally gave forth a cloud of dust in 
response to a bursting shell. The trenches occupied by the Battalion had 
once been part of the French front line. 

On the 23rd of October the Twenty-Sixth, in ctmjunction with the 
29th American Division on its left, was ordered to make an attack on 
Belleu Wood. The object was to gain possession of the ridge running from 
the Bois d'Etrayes to Belleu Wood. This ridge was an important point on 
the Heights of the Meuse, as it completely controlled the low ground be- 
yond. Before this attack, the line ran from Molleville Farm along the 
northern edge of the Bois d'Etrayes and Bois de la Reine. The plan called 
for one battalion of infantry to attack from Molleville FanTi with the 29th 
Division acting on its left. This battalion was to advance easterly until it 
reached a certain point in Hovijjpy Wood, where it was to establish liaison 
with a second battalion attacking from the south, and both were then to 
force their way through to the assigned objective. 

The 101st Machine Gun Battalion was gi\-cn the task of supporting 
this attack with indirect fire, and on the night of the 22nd, took up a bar- 
rage position on a hill in the Bois dc Brabant-sur-Mcuse. B Company was 
to fire along the ra\-ine in the lIoui)i)\- Bois and the eastern edge of the 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 51 

woods, while C Company's target was the Tranchee de Melnik, the southern 
edge of Belleu Bois, and a point in the Ravin de Molleville. These targets 
were chosen because they were known to be concentration-points of the 
enemy, and because the machine-gun barrage would best help the attack of 
the battalion on the left by descending on the opposing infantry and pre- 
venting it from maneuvering for counter-attack. The barrage opened at 
6:15 in the morning and was sustained for three-quarters of an hour. The 
infantry took its preliminary objectives in Houppy Wood shortly after seven 
o'clock, and proceeded with the attack on Belleu Wood which was also 
captured. During the barrage the Battalion suffered extremely heavy 
shell -fire. 

The same day the enemy counter-attacked four times against Belleu 
Wood. The Battalion was called upon to lay a barrage of interdiction 
around the northern and eastern sides of these woods. Four guns of each 
company had been put out of action during the barrage of the morning, but 
the remaining guns were trained on the targets. The first three counter- 
attacks were repulsed with losses to the enemy, but the fourth finally re- 
sulted in his regaining part of Belleu Wood. The Bois des Chenes, however, 
remained in our hands. 

The Battalion spent the night in open trenches, under heavy bom- 
bardment of gas and high explosive. 

At five o'clock on the 24th another attack was ordered on the enemy 
in Belleu Bois, the ridge between the Ravin de la Reine and the Ravin de 
la Hazelle, Hill 360, the Bois d'Ormont, and the western triangle of Moirey 
Wood. The Battalion was to support the attack with indirect fire. The 
barrage used on the preceding day was fired. With the exception of a small 
part of Belleu Bois and Hill 360, the objectives were taken. 

It was learned from the infantry that most of the enemy resistance 
came from the ravines on the other side of the ridge. Apparently these 
ravines, as well as being strongholds for artillery and machine-guns, were 
used to mass troops for counter-attacks. Accordingly, for the next two days, 
the Battalion laid systematic harassing fire on the Ravin] du Chuchu, the 
Ravin de la Vaux-Hochee, the Ravin de la Hazelle, and the ravine between 
the Bois Wavrille and the Bois de Crepion. 

On the night of October 25-26 a platoon from B Company was sent 
forward to report to the Commanding Officer of the 101st Infantry, and was 
assigned to direct fire positions in the Houppy Bois. This platoon remained 
there in support until the 31st, when it was relieved. 

Another attack was planned for October 27 on Belleu Bois and Hill 
360. The Battalion, minus the platoon with the 101st Infantry, again sup- 



52 History ok Thk IOIst Machine Gun Battalion 

ported this operation with indireet fire on the same ra\-ines. Belleu Bois 
was finally taken. 

The Battalion was relieved on October 31 and returned to Marre. The 
tour of duty in the Bois de Brabant-sur-Meuse had been the hardest in its 
history. For a period of ten days the men had been under continuous 
shell-fire. The guns had been repeatedly in action. The only shelter was a 
shallow trench which, although it afforded some protection against high 
explosive, offered none against gas. There were gas attacks every night, and 
the men were forced to wear their masks the greater part of the time, 
making it almost impossible to sleep. During this period our echelon did 
excellent work, bringing up supplies regularly each night under heavy 
shell-fire, so that the men did not have to go hungry. Reports from the in- 
fantry showed that our fire had been effective, and the Battalion was com- 
mended in orders by the 51st Brigade and Division Commanders. 

The reserve position at Marre proved far more comfortable than the 
one at the cross-roads north of Vacherauville. The town was provided with 
sufficient dugouts to accomodate all of the men, and there was room to park 
the train and install the kitchens. 

On the night of the 31st, the 51st Brigade was relieved, and in turn, 
relieved the 2Gth French Division on the right of the 52nd Brigade. This 
change brought the Divisional front further to the eastward. 

During the following week the enemy showed signs of retiring, and on 
the 8th, the Division was ordered to advance to the eastward on Azannes 
and Ornes. The 101st Machine Gun Battalion was sent in its motors to 
Bras, ready to start forward. The rainy weather and shell-fire had made the 
roads impassable for motor transportation, so that the Battalion was or- 
dered to remain at Bras to await developments. It was held there until the 
11th, when the armistice put an end to the fighting. 

The day of the armistice is one to be remembered. The Division was 
to attack at 9 :30 in the morning ; and the day, which was to mark the ces- 
sation of all hostilities, was begun wnth a violent bombardment by our 
artiller}\ The Battalion was on the alert, ready to mo\"e at a moment's 
notice. The big guns thundered persistently. To the casual observer, 
things certainly looked more like war than peace. Of course, there were 
rumors. There always are rumors. Early in the morning an excited poilu 
appeared shouting '^ Finie la guerre!" Later, another appeared with the 
same news, and still later, another. They were closely questioned. The 
most definite basis for the information seemed lo be that the orderly of 
some French lieutenant had heard his officer say that all firing was to 
cease at eleven o'clock. This was hardly official. As the time ])assed and the 
activity of the artillerx' increased, the doubt as to the capitulation of the 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 53 

Germans became strengthened. The same rumor had been current at 
Verdun, weeks earlier, only to be followed by the most terrific experience 
in the lines that the Battalion had known. The wise ones were determined 
not to be fooled a second time. As a matter of fact, it was not until after 
eleven o'clock that official notice was received from Division Headquarters 
that hostilities were over. At eleven o'clock the last shot was fired. The 
101st returned to Marre. 

THE ARMISTICE 

It was originally intended that the 26th Division should fonn a part 
of the Army of Occupation, but, owing to the fact that the armistice found 
the Division with only 5,000 effectives, its name was taken from the list at 
the last moment, and it was ordered to withdraw to the Montigny-le-Roi 
Area, between Chaumont and Langres. 

Major Bulkeley had been gassed during the operations of the Battalion 
in Brabant Wood and was sent to hospital on November 2. Captain Myers 
assumed command of the unit and Lieutenant Agnew took his place in C 
Company. During the hard fighting on the hill in the Bois de Brabant 
the Battalion had been subjected to several severe gas attacks; but it was 
not imtil after the relief that it came to light that the Major had been 
seriously affected. It is difficult to estimate the loss to an organization 
of such a personality as Major Bvilkeley's. His influence had been felt 
by all the men of the Battalion — they believed in him and knew that he 
believed in them. His interest in his men and his personal magnetism gave 
a sterling quality to his leadership — it was true leadership of a rare type. 
After the Major left, the men still felt the influence of his character and 
fine example. 

The 101st left Marre on the 15th of November and went by motor to 
the town of Nubecourt where it remained until the 17th. Then followed a 
long march on foot to Villotte-devant-St. Mihiel. The rest of the journey 
to our final destination, made partly in trucks and partly on foot, came to 
an end four days later at Louvieres. 

Upon arrival the Battalion proceeded to make itself as comfortable as 
possible in what were to be its winter quarters. Louvieres proved to be a 
small hamlet with even fewer than the customary 200 inhabitants, which 
had usually been the size of the population in towns the 101st had fre- 
quented during the past. It was difficult to find a sufficient number of bil- 
lets — some of the men having to sleep on the stone pavement of a barn. 
Fortunately there were two wooden barracks which made excellent mess- 
shacks. Had there been floors, these might have served as sleeping-quarters • 
However, the men had been long enough in France to know how to make 



54 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

the best of whatex'er offered, and in a week's time were cheerfully faeing 
the prospect of another winter of rain and mud. 

For the great majority of the men the months following the armistice 
proved to be the most severe ordeal they were forced to undergo while in 
Fran(x\ In the first ])lacc, there was naturally a tremendous mental and 
physical reaction after nine months of almost continuous service in the line. 
Most of the men felt that the work they had coine to do, being accomplished, 
there remained nothing worth while except a speedy return to the United 
States. To thoroughly understand this point of view it must be remem- 
bered that our men were civilians by habit and inclination. They made the 
best soldiers in Europe, not because they liked the Army and its soldier- 
life, but rather because their very love of the things of peace drew forth 
their best efforts to end, in as short a time as possible, a war which was 
inore hateful to them than anything they could conceive. The war once 
ended, soldiering became drudgery, and thoughts of home occupied the 
mind. During the preceding winter there had been the great incentive of 
preparation, but that of 1918-19 offered no such stimulus. 

November, December and January dragged by slowly. The time was 
taken up with an endless round of drill and inspection. Members of the 
Battalion, fortunate enough to have their turn come around, were granted 
leaves, and found the various recreation areas most enjoyable. Life at 
Louvieres was, at best, monotonous, and it was with a sense of great relief 
that, on February first, orders were received to entrain for the Le Mans 
Area. 

Major Lawrence H. Watres, fonnerly of the 28th Division, had been 
assigned to cominand the 101st on December 27, and was transferred back 
to his own unit on January 17, when Captain Myers again became Bat- 
talion Commander. 

Le Mans was supposed to serve as a clearing station for troops going 
home. The Battalion detrained at Ma}'et and went into billets at Man- 
signe, confident that before long it would be on its way to Brest. All arms 
and nearU' all the transportation had been turned in before leaving Louvie- 
res, so that the time at Mansigne was taken up with day after day of close- 
order drill. "Squads right" and "left" is not an exciting pastime. Rifles 
were issued, and were welcome, as they gave the machine-gunners some- 
thing new to think about in learning the manual of arms. Inspections be- 
came more and more frequent. But the monotony of this existence was 
somewhat broken Y)y a vaudeville show given by a platoon of C Company 
at Louvieres, and another by B Company at Mansigne. An event of im- 
portance to the 101st was the return of Lieutenant Westbrook — now a 
major — to assume command. Adjutant H. W. Mills had been promoted to 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 55 

a captaincy and placed in command of B Company on November 26 and 
Lieutenant C. F. Comey, who had led B Company since Major Bulkeley had 
taken command of the Battalion, was appointed adjutant. There was no 
immediate prospect of a move to Brest. Finally, towards the end of March, 
the long-expected orders were received, and the first of April found the 
Battalion on the water, aboard the good ship Agamemnon. 

That passage on the Agamemnon was extraordinary. While in peace- 
time the ship carried about 1800 passengers, on this occasion she was 
crammed to capacity with over 6,000 — soldiers and crew. All movement 
about the decks had to be carefully regulated; for example, at mess hours 
there was a designated route for each organization. As soon as a man was 
given his rations he was required to move, without delay, to the deck as- 
signed his company. Lines of men were passing about the big vessel all day. 
The problem of feeding over 6,000, from a single kitchen, was not simple, 
and only close cooperation on the part of all concerned made it possible. 
The chief occupations aboard ship seemed to be those of eating and sleep- 
ing. Time passed quickly, and the voyage was completed without incident. 
We were going home, and that all-important fact made any temporary 
inconvenience seem of little consequence. 

The Agamemnon steamed into Boston harbor on the 7th of April. A 
tremendous reception awaited her. The harbor was filled with all sorts of 
boats loaded with relatives, food and brass bands. As the transport took 
her dignified course to the pier the small craft hung about her like a 
swarm of mosquitos. Shouting of names, waving of flags, and heroic, if vain, 
attempts to throw oranges, chocolate and cigarettes up to the soldiers 
crowding over the deck rails far above, added considerably to the general 
excitement. 

The troops remained on board over night. On the following day they 
were sent to Camp Devens where was begun the work incidental to demobi- 
lization. The men were given short leaves-of -absence to visit their homes. 
Records were completed and equipment turned in. On April 22 the Bat- 
talion took part in the great review of the Yankee Division, held on the 
parade-ground at Camp Devens before Generals Edwards and Hale and the 
Governors of the New England States. Before this imposing ceremony our 
Battalion colors, with those of the other units of the Division, were decor- 
ated with streamers bearing the names of the principal battles fought by 
the Twenty-Sixth. Three days later came the parade in Boston — the last 
time the people of New England were to see their fighting Division together 
as a complete organization. By the 1st of May every man had received his 
discharge from the Army, and the 101st Machine Gun Battalion had be- 
come only a name and a memory. 




t. ^ 



AIont-les-Neufchiitcau 

1. Our Kucst.s at the Cliristiiias party. 2. Battalion headquarters. 'A. The Christmas tree. 
4. The rhfiteau. .">. Tlic cliurch and "Red Barraeks." (i. Sehool-niaster and kids doing their 
part — Christmas. 7. The battalion glee — "Tell a story of the nlory". N and 0. Company B' 
mess shack before and after burning. 



Mont-les-Neufchateau 

By Ernest deF. Miel, D. D., American Red Cross, A. E. F, 

WHEN other memories grow dim, we shall never forget two things in 
regard to our sojourn in France; namely, the diminutive box-cars 
in which we crossed that country, invariably marked "40 Hommes S 
Cheveaux," and the mud which greeted us and stayed with us, sticking 
closer than the proverbial brother. " The more I see of the sunny skies of 
France," said one machine-gunner, "the less I care to look upon the sunny 
skies of Italy." Rain and mist three hundred days out of three hundred 
and sixty-five is no extravagant estimate. After a three days' journey across 
country, we reached Neufchateau in the Vosges and were assigned our first 
quarters in a little village lying two miles and a half south of that town. 
Only the hospitality of the people of the village could take away from the 
chill of that November day. A few wooden barracks had been erected 
for the accommodation of American troops, but most of us found quar- 
ters in bams and stables, using hay to take the place of a shortage of 
blankets. 

About the first thing we looked for, after we had settled down in our 
billets, was a bath. It was evident that nothing corresponding to the idea 
of a bath-tub existed in the village assigned to us, so as soon as leave of 
absence could be granted we made a quick get-away for the town of Neuf- 
chateau. Here we discovered, at the very start, that a certain primitive 
communism still exists in France, perhaps coming down from the old Ro- 
man days when the public baths had not only to do with personal hygiene, 
but also were a social institution. Those of us who had a faint familiarity 
with the French language knew that the sign "Bains" had nothing to do 
with Boston and its favorite diet, but stood for the institution of which we 
were so eagerly in search. To our chagrin we found that owing to scarcity 
of fuel, no baths could be had except on Thursdays and Saturdays. An 
old lady who presided over the "plant " was most voluble in her apologies, 
but even that did not stop us from saying things under our breath hardly 
complimentary to French social ]3ractices. 

Our first real job was a clean-up one, compared with which clean-up 
week in Hartford was a polite and pleasurable recreation. We were unac- 
customed to a country in which the front of the house was always at the 
rear and the manure heaps were piled along the streets and regarded as an 
evidence of wealth on the part of the property-holder. To make the town 
sanitarv and fairlv decent took the combined strength of our entire out- 



58 History of Tiik 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

fit, and ()ccii])ie'(l nian\- days. Wc compromised willi the ])easants and over- 
came their prejudice by offerinj^ to cart all this fertilizing material to the 
fields in advance of the s])ring season. Such a large company of men com- 
ing from a fairly warm and comfortable climate needed more warmth than 
the natives were accustomed to, and our second job of real importance was 
to go up in squads to the forest lying some two miles west of us on a high 
ridge, and carry down logs of wood on our shoulders. Until this daily chore 
was performed and the kitchen fires abundantly provided with fuel, drill- 
ing was out of the cjuestion. 

Wash-day in a French \'illage is something of a social ceremon\'. In- 
stead of the individual wash-tubs in each cottage, the town provides a 
great trough at the end of the street, sheltered by a shed and equipped with 
smooth slabs of stone, over which the water nms freely. Here, among the 
village women chattering in an unknown tongue, we wedged ourselves and 
did a laundry business of which even a Chinaman might have been proud. 
One of the huts which had been built for our use was appropriated by the 
Y. M. C. A. and used as a canteen ; and here the letters we were able to send 
home were UvSually written. Here also, we held our meetings and sang our 
songs, and when Sunday came around, met for service. Fortunately, we had 
an abundance of good "chow" and found that a visit to Neufchateau 
would supply us with the little luxuries needed to relieve the monotony of 
the bill of fare. Some of us discovered on the shelves of one of the village 
stores, cans of condensed milk bearing the familiar inscription "Charter 
Oak Brand," with a picture of that famous tree. This suggestion of home 
comforts, while it accentuated our separation from familiar scenes, also 
added an element of cheer in making us feel that wherever we go in this 
world, we are sure to iind some evidence of little old Connecticut. 

We had to wait many weeks for our machine-guns, but the disappoint- 
ment was somewhat relieved Ijy the information that our outfit was to be- 
come a kind of mobile battery, and was to travel in Ford cars. Doubtless 
this decision was due to the fact that General Edwards, when he came 
to inspect us, sized us up for a rather fast crowd, and felt that we were too 
rapid a bunch to travel with mules. It is a far cry from cavalry service to 
the mechanics and mysteries of machine-gun practice. We found it meant 
far more than learning the intricacies of the gun itself, for the range on 
which we had to practice was located some six kilometers from our billets. 
No milkman in the city ever got up earlier than we did to reach that distant 
territory. It was like a tour through France, only that darkness prevented 
us from enjoying the view. The same thing happened after the day's work 
— we came home in the dark. Perhaps this was part of the great scheme of 
camoullagc, of which we had heard so much at home! Anyhow, we might 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 59 

easily have been mistaken for the "Black Watch," as we tramped across 
country. 

But it was a good thing to get to work on the guns, for up to that time 
we had a sneaking notion that the soldier's job was to be discharged chiefly 
by pitchfork and shovel, and that it fell into line with the agricultural pur- 
suits of the French peasants. Hard as it was to master the gun, that task 
couldn't compare in complexity and intricacy with the mastery of the 
French language. Our battalion interpreter, "Colonel" Woronick, who 
proved to be the best kind of a "scout," took us in hand for instruction in 
the subtleties of French speech. Most of us made astonishing progress. 
"Toot sweet" came easy, for it had a melifluous sound; "beaucoup, " 
while it meant much and we got little — of anything except hard work — was 
not difficult to get; "pas bon" struck our fancy, for it described various 
and sundry things, like the weather and our billets and French tobacco. 
As the only available grub, outside the regular rations, consisted of eggs, we 
all tried to get the genuine pronunciation of that mysterious word. The 
singular was easy enough (un oeuf), but the plural was too elusive for the 
American tongue in sliding scale of values. Captain Myers' orderly solved 
the problem with true Yankee ingenuity. When his commander sent him 
to a neighboring peasant's house for two eggs for breakfast, he hailed a 
French woman in charge of the grange with a double-barreled ejaculation, 
"Madam, wuffi wuff!" 

Over against our feeble attempts at French, were the strenuous and 
serious efforts made by our hosts to get a grip upon our own language. One 
had to get his ear in focus to catch any meaning at all. The kids had no 
difficulty, however, in getting hold of the phrase "good night," which 
seemed to strike their fancy, and which they used at all hours of the day. 
After a while "penny" became a familiar term to them, and also "cigar- 
ette" — it was a great discovery when they found that the word for "smok- 
er's delight" was the same in their own tongue as in ours — but the phrase 
which was worked overtime in all the cafes, restaurants, stores and shops 
was the word "feeneesh," which applied to all manner of stock in trade; but 
no one has yet discovered whether it is French or English in its origin. 

Our little village of Mont was located about thirty-five miles south of 
that part of the Verdun line known as the St. Mihiel Sector. Here the 
Front made a decided wedge into French territory, and on a quiet night it 
was easy to hear the rumble of the big guns. We had a notion that not many 
weeks would elapse before we should see that section, and later it did be- 
come our chief area of operation. Meanwhile, in order to make us realize 
that the war was not limited to the front line, an occasional air raid over 
the Neuf chateau region kept us on the alert, and gave us a foretaste of what 



60 TTiSTORY OF The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

was to come. 'I'lic only real excitement in our life in this back area occurred 
when the mess-shack of Company "B" took fire. The village fountain 
furnished the water supply, and a bucket squad consisting of most of the 
men in camp was the best substitute we could offer for up-to-date ap]jaratus. 
That such hastily imi)rovised methods failed to meet the emergency goes 
without saying. 

On the rare occasions when we could gel half a day off, our hearts and 
healthy appetites turned hungrily to Neufchateau, the "metropolis" of 
this section, a town of some eight thousand people, which with its small 
shops and narrow streets, seemed to our eyes to have stood still since the 
Middle Ages. Notwithstanding its somewhat squalid and grotescjue aspect, 
we found it a desirable ])lace in which to spend our leisure hours. We shall 
never forget the Hotel de la Providence. To the imagination, stimulated 
by an empty stomach, it almost attained the grandeur and luxury of the 
Waldorf Astoria. Happy the inan who could sneak through some side door 
ahead of the commissioned officers, and get a seat at one of its crowded 
tables. What was lacking in food was made up in good fellowship and tlie 
sense of luxury that comes from eating with real plates and napkins. 

Those of us who were interested in history, and felt the grip of the 
heroic tale of Joan of Arc, made our devotions by a pilgrimage to her birth- 
place and historic shrine at Domremy, about sixteen kilometres from our 
cantonment. The little house in which she was born, hidden behind a wall 
of stone, covered with vines, contained many symbols of her presence. The 
village church near by, where she made her first Communion, still retains 
its ])rimiti\-e simplicity, but the basilica which the French nation has 
erected u]xjn the spot where she is supposed to have seen her visions while 
tending her father's sheep, is a sanctuary of great magnificence, and a 
beautiful triljute to her memory. Abundantly adorned with the finest 
expressions of French art, and beautiful in the completeness of its design, 
it testifies to the admiration and affection in which this remarkable girl is 
held by the jjcople whose land she delivered from the hand of the enemy. 
She was the Saint who epitoinized the courage and confidence of the Nation 
in the face of this stupendous war; and in every church, tai)ers were con- 
stantly' burning before her image, ])laeed there by the mothers, wives and 
vsisters who had followed the ])ath of her own devotion in sending their dear 
ones to the Front. 

Thanksgiving Day and Cln-istmas had a most wliolesome and briglu- 
cning elTeet vijjon our si)irits. The Commissary Department of the A. E. F. 
had promised the troops in France abundance of turkey, which — as Ben- 
jamin Franklin insisted and everyone knows — is our national l)ird, and to 
the credit of the Su])])l\- Dei)artment of the Arm\' let it be said that it 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 61 

"made good." We certainly had a feast of "fat things upon the lees" — 
"some stuffing" as remarked one of the lads who had stuffed himself to the 
brim. 

Our celebration of Christmas Day was characterized by an even keener 
spirit of festivity. Some weeks in advance the word went around that the 
American troops in our neighborhood intended to show the French vil- 
lagers what an American Christmas was like, and the boys entered into all 
the preparations with a hearty good will. 

In these towns behind the lines the population usually consisted of old 
men and women at the one extreme and little children at the other. The 
mature manhood and womanhood, as well as the youth of the land, were 
fully occupied with the war, — the young men in active service and the 
young women in munition work. We were determined that the kiddies 
should have a Christmas celebration that they would remember as long as 
they lived, and the plans eventually took the shape of our municipal Christ- 
mas at home. A very tall and stately fir was cut and put up the night before 
in the little square in front of the village church and a detachment of 
volunteers set to work decorating it with flags, silver and gold stars, and 
other bright things. Meanwhile mysterious tickets had been prepared, each 
bearing a number, and the boys and girls of the village were called together 
to draw one in view of the events that were forth-coming on the following 
day. 

At ten o'clock in the inorning the soldiers assembled, with the children 
and parents of the village in their most festive attire. The exercises were 
opened by our own Major, and to the great joy of the natives and his own 
men, he delivered his address of welcome and congratulation in French. 
It was such a good speech and made such a favorable impression upon the 
people that it ought to be preserved for posterity. We all felt mighty proud 
to have one of our own nvimbcr stand up, and without manuscript or note, 
talk to these people in their own tongue, even though a lot of us did not 
understand what he was saying. It relieved the occasion of any feeling of 
strangeness as far as the French participants were concerned. Here it is: 

"M. le Maire, Mesdames, Messieurs, Mes Enfants: 

Grace a votre accueil cordial et sympathetique, le jour Noel sera pour 
nous un jour de fete, bien que passe loin de notre terre natalc. 

II est agreable de nous savoir au milieu d'amis et d'etre vraiment con- 
sideres comme les freres d'armes de vos fils, d'etre unis a eux pour porter au 
coeur des pays Alsaciens-Lorraine, le drapeau de la liberte des peuples. 

Veuillez done voir dans cette simple fete un affecteuex et respectueux 
hommage a une population qui dispense genereusement une amitie recon- 
fortante aux officiers et aux soldats des Etats-Unis. 



62 TTisioKV OK Tin; lOlsr Maciunk (Iin Baitalion 

li^l voiis, mes cnfants, ciiie vos ])c'lites iiK'moiivs rnrej^Mslrcnt le sou- 
venir (Ic cwix (nii, pour \'ous assuror uur \'ir heurcusc, n'hesitoronl pas a 
pom'MrcM" plus a\'ant dans la voie si 54;loric'Usc'iiUMit trascV par vos ])imvs." 

'I'hen the "Mairc" of the villaj^e delivered a dij^niilied response, the 
tenor of which was that his people were most ha])i)y to have the American 
soldiers as their j^aiests and fell ihat the entrance of oiu* eomitry into this 
war would not only decide it favorably, but would also result in a lastinj; 
friendshi]) between the two nations. Tt was a j^M'aceful siH>ech, and though 
our men could not follow it all, ])rol)a1)ly most of llicni c-aui;hl tlu' drift. 
After that, a triple ([uartctte of our own boys came l\)r\vard and san^^ in line 
style a niedl(.\\' of American sonj^.s — those old melodies we have known and 
sunj; from i-liildliood. ThiMi the village schoolmaster led into the t"ore_ 
ground a group of some thirty lads of from ten to fourteen years, and the\' re- 
cited in concert a ])atriotic ])oem by Victor Hugo. One was astonished at 
their abilit\- toki>ep step with each otluM', so to speak, and at thcgcnuiiu' dra- 
matic expression which colored the recitation. No doubt the youngsters felt 
the spirit of the theme, and stirred by a feeling of devotion to the cause of 
their country, sa\-cd ilu- affair from being mechanical. AftcM- that, our own 
(^handler took his ])lace on the step in front of Hcackiuarters and sang with 
line feeling the familiar (\arol " It Came ujion the Midnight Clear." It made 
every one of us choke up a bit, for it carrietl us back to the \'er\' lu-art of the 
home circle. 

A chorus of tiny I'^riMn-h girls api)ropriatel\' replied to this Christmas 
song with onc> of llu-ir own i-arols, ha\ing the refrain " Restcz chez Nous,'' a 
very beautiful and touching invitation to the Infant Saviour, if He should 
come again, to make his abode with them. The [)rogram then took on a more 
jovial and informal tone. Ilawle\-, of newspaper fame, was called out and 
gave us a stump speech in his inimitable style. Hci'IoschI with sonic \'crses 
which excited a great ileal of merriment among our nuMi. as tlu\\- art' a take- 
off on Kipling's familiar poem "(lunga Din." When one realizes that the 
Ford car had perhaps been the chief instrument of transportation in this 
war and, notwithstanding Mr. Henry Ford's peace inclinations, had made 
it possible lo"i-arr\- on," both bet-ausc of its reliability as a means of trans- 
port and its small consinnption of gasoline, ewryone will be willing to grant 
that the \-erses of this amati-ur poet, whoi'wr he is, reallx' hax'e a iilaee ii\ 
the antholo''\- oi this War. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 63 

HUNKA TIN 

You may talk about your voltures 
When you're sitting round the quarters, 

But when it comes to getting blesses in, 
Take a Httle tip from me, 
Let those heavy motors be. 

Pin your faith to Henry F's old Hunka Tin. 
Give her essence and de Veau, 
Crank her up and let her go, 

You back firin', spark-plug foulin' 
Hunka Tin. 

The paint is not so good, 

And no doubt you'll find the hood 

Will rattle like a boiler shop en route; 
The cooler's sure to boil. 
And perhaps she's leakin' oil. 

Then oftentimes the horn declines to toot. 
But when the night is black 
And there's blesses to take back. 

And they hardly give you time to take a smoke. 
It's mighty good to feel. 
When you're sitting at the wheel. 

She'll be running when the bigger cars are broke. 

After all the wars are past. 
And we're taken home at last. 

To our reward of which the preacher sings, 
When these ukelele sharps 
Will be strumming golden harps. 

And the aviators all have reg'lar wings. 
When the Kaiser is in hell. 
With the furnace drawing well. 

Paying for his million different kinds of sin, 
If they're running short of coal. 
Show me how to reach the hole 

And I'll cast a few loads down with 
Hunka Tin. 

Yes, Tin, Tin, Tin, 

You exasperatin' puzzle, Hunka Tin, 

I've abused you and I've flayed you. 

But, by Henry Ford, who made you. 
You are better than a Packard, Hunka Tin. 

(From the American Field Service Bulletin, Paris) 



64 History ok Tin. lOlsr AIaciiinf. Oun Battalion 

After that wc> had sonic more singinj^ from the trijjlc quartette and 
some Ijanjo and mandohn ])laying by artists in our own Battalion. The 
French were dehghted with this novelty. This was followed by a vaude- 
ville stunt between two of the lads, one Irish and the other Italian, which 
really proved to be the piece de resistance for the Americans, though it com- 
pletely mystified the French audience. 

The exercises closed with the distril)ution of gifts to the village children. 
A great table loaded down with 1 beautiful toys which the men themselves 
had bought, was standing ready, and each child, the day ]:)efore, had drawn 
a number. No. 1 , of course, had first choice and so it went all along the line, 
and as almost all the i)rescMits were equally desirable, no hearts were broken, 
but, on the contrary, the children were jubilant o\Tr this kind of Christmas 
celebration. 

After the exercises the Major announced a religious service to be held 
in the Y. M. C. A. tent. . Wc had put a few candles on the improvised 
altar and made it look as festive as possible. We sang our hymns: — "O, 
Little Town of Bethlehem," "Oh, Come All Yc Faithful," "Hark! the 
Herald Angels vSing," "While Sheperds Watched Their Flocks by Night." 
It would have done the hearts of our people good, not only to have heard 
the singing of those familiar carols, but also to have seen the lads come 
forward at the close of the service to receive the Holy Communion. 

But the crowning event of the day's festivities which put just the 
right finishing touch upon our ])rogram and fulfilled our highest hopes was 
the arrival of the American mail from home! When news came to us that 
some fifteen or twenty car-loads had reached our Di\'ision, every possible 
conveyance was brought into recjuisition to bring those precious packages 
to their i)roper destination; ambulances, motor-trucks, mule-teams, — -all 
sorts of vehicles were loaded down to the gunwales and made a memorable 
procession along the highways to the x'arious villages where our troops were 
quartered. To our own Battalion no less than five loads of this mail were 
delivered, and during the following week it kei)t coming in, .so that the 
festivities were prolonged over several da\'s. The i)CM)i)le at home little 
knew how much these gifts and remembrances counted in the commemora- 
tion of this great anniversary which means so much in the home life of our 
people. Besides personal gifts, wc found a lot of children's toys, and in the 
late afternoon these wc-re distributed, the boys going from house to house 
and remembering the kids they specially kncnv. 

After the Holidays the work took on a more serious turn. Drilling 
became a stiff and stern i:)ractice. The rumor began to grow that we were 
shortly to be i)ut into line with the French for our baptism of fire. All 
secret notions that the war was to come to an end before we got into active 



History of The 101 st Machine Gun Battalion 



65 



service began to dissolve. From the attitude of our officers, we knew that 
the Yankee Division was destined to do its full share in winning the war. 
When the order came to get rid of surplus equipment and to have each 
man's hair cropped close, we felt that the day was soon to arrive. Sure 
enough, on February 8 the Battalion was ordered to move. We had only 
time to take hurried leave of the villagers to whom we had become greatly 
attached, and from the saddened faces that watched us depart we knew our 
feelings of regard were mutual. Eager anticipation of a big experience was 
in every heart. We knew nothing of the plan, but knew we were on the way. 
The song that sung itself in our hearts during those hours of thrill and in- 
tense excitement was, "We Don't Know Where We're Going, but We 
Know^ We're On the Way." 








Mont-les-Neufehateau 



Price : 50 centimes per copy ^. 



Vol. I, \. 



THE TRIPOD 

A SEMI-NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY AND FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE 
lOlbt MACHINE GUN BATTALION AND TROOPS ADJACENT AT NEVERMINDWIIEBE. FRANCE 

Entered at the Post-Officc id Jenesaispas, France, as buck (second class) mail matter. 

CiBCULATiON : — (deleted by censor) shots a minute. 



IIAIlTFOnn OFflCK. — Entrances on Main street, Central 
Row and Prospect street. 

i\EW II A I'i.V OFFICE. — E. J.. Noriarty, correspondent, 
\\ BroadwBy, 



BERLiy OFFICE. — NeunzelinlivmderUchtzeliu, \\ iili«lin- 
strussc. 

LOCAL OFFICE. — Y. M. C. A. Tent, No. i Vvhitncy avenue, 
Nevermindwherc, France. 



Contributions in prose, verse, trench, English and Bridgepor/ese should be handed in at the local OJ'fice not Utter than 
I p\m.. Battalion time, on the afternoon preceding publication. They should be typewritten ivherever possible. i\o notice 
will be taken of anonymous publications, and the editors reserve the right to reject W. O. L. all communications the spelling, 
sentiments and legihiHty of which might give aid and comfort to the enemy. 



BUSINESS OF SALUTING. 



With tills number The Tripod steadies 
itself on its two front legs and one rear 
leg, brings its right hand smartly opposite 
its right eyebrow, fingers extended, and 
thumb tucked carefully in and salutes the 
officers and men of the One Hundred and 
First Machine "Gun Battalion, now serving 
with the American Expeditionary Forces 
in one of the muddiest parts of France. 
It hopes to serve them well, as long as the 
weather, the censor, the transportation, 
the paymaster and the enemy permit. 

Its aim is to collect for them the news not 
only of the companies comprising the 
battalion, but the-news of the cities and 
towns in God's Country {i..e., North 
America) from which the members of 
those companies were recruited; to provide 
them with a clearing house for ideas and a 
safety valve for the expression of literary 
aspiration, whether in prose, verse, or 
plain United States. 

The Tripod has no politics. It has no 
ulterior motive other than that of 
brightening the corner of France where 
Its readers are billeted, — and, through 
the sending of the paper home by those 
readers, the brightening of large portions 
of Hartford and New Haven, Connccliciit, 
and the whole State of Vermont. In 
fact, one of the greatest services which 
The Tripod hopes to render will be that 



of keeping that large and patient portion 
of the population known as "t\w folks 
back home", informed of the thoughts 
and doings of the battalions members, at 
a minim\im of cost and effort to the 
hardworking members of the battalion 
themselves. 

The Tripod is m no sense a kick-box. 
If you have a genuine grouch, air it 
"through channels" and not to the editors 
of The Tripod ; it wouldn't be likely to get 
you anything in either case, for you know 
yourself that you're mighty lucky and 
proud to be where you are. But if you've 
got anything interesting in your mail, for 
example — news from home, sidelights on 
the way the folks on t'other side Atlantic 
are taking the war — copy it off and bring 
it to the paper's office, or bring us the 
letter and we'll copy it off for you. (Never 
fear, Reginald, we wouldn't thing of 
printing her name unless she asked us 
to !) And, if in the course of your work 
and wanderings about " notre village", 
you come across anything worthy of being 
written up, which you think might be of 
interest to the people in God's Country, 
write it up and bring it in. Only stick 
close to the censorship riiiings when you 
write it; we don't want the Kaiser to 
get any comfort out of The Tripod. We 
have another kind of tripod along with 
us that will give him and his gang all the 
comfort they can stand ! 

In short, gentlemen, come across. 



f*j First cppy will not bo isbiiid until afur pay day, gentle reader- 



Facsimile rcprcniuctiun of lirsl page 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



67 



We're here to serve you, and will do so as 
long as you'll let us. But we can't swing the 
job unless you'll all help out — in keeping an 
eye open for things we may print, in seeing 
that the Family and the Dutch Uncle and the 
Girl all get copies of our sheet, regularly. 
We've made the cost as rockbottomly low as 
possible considering the cost of paper and ink 
in this war-distressed country; it's little 
enough compared to what the home-folks are 
e.xpending on us, in gifts, in taxes, in what- 
not. Send it to 'em; they'll appreciate it — 
and, at the same time, don't forget that you 
want a copy of your own to put in that scrap- 
book for little Willy to read when he's old 
enough. 

So, gentlemen, here's luck — but the luck is 
strictly up to you ! 



THANKSGIVING IN THE lOlST M.G.B. 



As exclusively predicted in The Tripod, 
Thanksgiving Day finally arrived; and as 
further exclusively predicted in The Tripod, 
it fell on November 29, 191 7. The turkeys 
arrived on time, as did several other things, 
mainly unforseen. In fact, the only thing 
that was late was first call in the morning; 
and that, being a whole hour later than usual, 
was more than excused for its tardiness. 

It was not a "white Thanksgiving", with 
snow on the ground, such as the memory of 
some hardy New England pioneer loves to 
dwell on. The weather was mild and balmy, 
permitting of outdoor shaving and bathing 
for the first time in a week. In consequence 
whereof (aided by a most rigid inspection "in 
preparation for the National Holiday" the 
afternoon before) the Battalion and the 
Engineers, as they sat down to observe the 
National Rite at 2.30 in the afternoon, pre- 
sented a most pleasing appearance of scrump- 
tiousness; and since cleanliness is next to 
godliness, the boys more than made up for 
not being able to attend a church service in 
the morning. 

Wonderingly the inhabitants of "noire 
villaj^e" clustered about the kitchens and 
sniffed the odors arising therefrom in prepara- 
tion for the meal of all meals, to a Yankee's 
mind. 

"Pourquoi cette preparation?" (or words 
to that effect) inquired one of the Dear Old 
Ladies who do the washing and box the little 
boy's ears hereabouts. "Is this the birthday- 
of M. le General Vazhangtone? " 

"Non, Madame," responded a very per- 



spiry cook, lifting his goggles politely as hs 
arose, like Venus out of the sea-foam, from 
amidst a mess of steaming onions. " It is not 
Washington's Birthday yet-a-while." 

"Non?" queried Madame again. ".\h! 
Then perhaps it is the birthday of M. le 
President Veelson that M'sieur desires to 
celebrate?" 

"Wrong again," grinned the still polite, 
but busy culinary artist. "We haven't got 
to that yet, but we probably will in time." 

Madame thought for a while. Then an 
idea hit her like a shell from a " 75 ". 

"Ah!" she exclaimed, delightedly. "I 
have it! Eet ees ze birthday of ze great 
American hero, Morgan Gee Boucley!" 

That was the crowning touch. With a roar 
the cook dived into his shanty again, howling 
with glee to the equally perspiry K.P.'s 
within, "Listen, boys, here's a new one!" 
Dumbfounded, Madame stood gazing after 
him for a moment, then turnecl sadly and 
clumped down the street in her clacking 
sahols, muttering something about the crazy 
Americans. 

Well, the -Americans certainly went crazy; 
with delight, that is, when at last that feed 
was put before them. Although the menus of 
the various companies here assembled varied 
a bit, in the main they were much the same. 
At all the messes there was turkey — and 
turkey; sweet potatoes from the southland 
and white potatoes from the northland, 
united like the Blue and the Gray; dressing — 
and dressing; cranberry sauce — and cran- 
berry sauce; and plenty of the field bakeries' 
production of good whole wheat U. S. bread, 
baked so freshly and cut so thickly that, in 
comparison to hardtack, it seemed almost 
like angel-cake. At one mess there were real 
doughnuts, with real holes in the middle just 
like the newly minted French money; at 
another there was real honest-to-goodness 
pie, with apples and raisins between the folds; 
onions, as related before, blossomed out as 
an extra vegetable in a third, and — oh, anj'- 
way you've a mind to take it, it was a real 
Thanksgiving meal! But it is hard to con- 
\ince the members of C Company that they 
didn't have a little bit of an edge on the rest 
of the crowd; for they had a gift from their 
captain that made all the difference in the 
world. It might have been good old New 
England cider, but it wasn't. Yet nobody 
kicked; and such a cheer! Next year, when 
the Thanksgiving dinner of the Yanks (as 
exclusively predicted in The Tripod) will be 
eaten in Berlin, the Company is going to set 
'em up to the Captain, in the choicest liquid 
products (fire excluded) of the Fatherland." 



68 



History of The IUIst Machine Gun Battalion 



(^OMPANY JOTTINGS 

C Company 

\\'clc()inc back from the rij;hl-liule, tighl- 
littlc Island, Sorgt. Joe Gish and the rest! 
We bet you had a bully time at that rest 
camp, and a fine ride over here across the 
Channel. 

Sergl. Richard Dicky Moore was a pleasant 
visitor in these parts not long ago. Come 
again, Dicky, early and often, is our senti- 
ments. 

The finest and quickest \va_\' to annex the 
Angora of Sui)i)ly Sergt. Old Bill Buck is to 
drop in to the Orderly Room and ask him for 
enough candles to trim the Company's 
Christmas tree. 

The members of the third platoon are just 
about getting used to the church chimes that 
begin to ring outside their windows e\'ery 
morning before reveille. 

The old-time query, "Who put those 
overalls in Mrs. Murphy's chowder?" is giv- 
ing place, in C company's kitchen, to the 
pertinent question, "Who threw that Karo 
syrup into the baked beans?" 

It is important if true to note that the ne.xt 
entertainment at the Y. M. may be featured 
by a debate between Corpl. Bristoll and Tom 
Burke on: "Resolved, that the war will end 
when it gets through." 

Troubles of a Top Sergeant: "Sergeant, 
who censors my mail?" 

T. S. "Why, the Lieutenant commanding 
your platoon, you poor boob!" 

Well, if you and the Lieutenant was " writ- 
in' to the same girl, Top, I suppose you'd 
just sorter be out of luck?" 

.\ very pleasant caller recently was Jimmy 
Bristoll, better known as Corpl. Roy Bris- 
toll's kid brother. 

According to the way some of the boys 
feel, about all they can apply from the Bible 
to our Sundays in the village is the passage 
about being hewers of wood and drawers of 
water. 

Corpl. Larry Xceld excited all the members 
of the first platoon to a high pitch of envy 
by going down-town Thanksgiving and pur- 
chasing a real, honest- to-goodness warm 
water and soap bath. Larry felt — and smelt 
^oh, so nice and righteous after he came 
back! 

Joe Clark has alreadv enough to start 
combing it again. 

Teddy Fabr\k and Hill Scoville were 
pleasant callers at the dentist's not so very 
long ago. 

That's a great new song that Sergt. Sandy 



{\ishman and his merry lads uncorked at the 
Thanksgi\'ing dinner aliout "Mister Booze". 
We'd |)rint it, only we count on getting some 
circulation in the United States which, ac- 
cording to the latest L-ogram, has all gone 
dry. 

That makes twice, now doesn't it, that 
the little McCiinn boy has copped orderly? 
Some soldier, George! 

Sergt. Hard Luck George Berlin is back 
from hospital. He says he had a good time 
being fed and everything, only they took his 
clothes and wouldn't let him walk around. 

B COMPAXY 

I'te. Paul Ailing isn't Pte. Paul Ailing an}- 
longer, ha\'ing received a commission as a 
Lieut, of Ca\'alry. This, according to some, 
is equivalent to being a Lieut, of the best 
thing on horses. 

Gardner Hall has the distinction, and we 
should hope pleasure, of being serenaded 
every morning just before reveille. 

Whatever the peace rumors B Company 
may hear it is certain that those emanating 
from Pte. Avery will receive but scant con- 
sideration, to judge from the way he has 
do[)ed the arrival of the mail of late. 

Dick Cushman is reported to have allowed 
that, when this \acation-war is ended, he is 
going on a coast-to-coast motor trip in God's 
Country for a rest. Why not try France for a 
change, Dick? 

Pte. I St. CI. Hodder has become an en- 
thusiastic sandwich man down at the Y. M., 
and is doing yeoman service in that noble 
capacity. More power to his elbow! 

Old Rough Allen mounted a guard one 
day not long ago, he being sergeant of the 
same. Ah, there, Clint! 

Stud Grey of here and Hartford is doing 
very nicel_\' up at Headfjuarters, where he is 
sergeant-majoring it with a right good will. 
We always knew he would make good. 

B Company's famous quartette expects 
to be in fine form soon, and is already prac- 
ticing its Christmas carols on the q. t. 

The Re\'. Dr. ICrnest del'' Miel, who is in 
l'"rance engaged in executive work for the 
American Red Cross, but who is best known 
to the Hartford men of the Battalion as I he 
rector of Trinity Church, Hartford, and 
"chai)lain" of old Troop B, spoke at the 
services in the Y. M. C. A. tent on Sunda\- 
morning, December 2. He congratulated the 
members of the iialtalion on being among ihe 
first to volunteer and to be transported to 
I'"rance. A communion ser\dce followed Dr. 
Miel's sermon. 



The loist Machine Gun BattaHon 

AS SEEN 

From the Y. M. C. A. 

By 

The Rev. Charles E. Hesselgrave, Ph.D. 



MEETING THE BATTALION 

TO recall the months of work and association with the 101st Machine 
Gun Battalion in France, is a pleasant and inspiring occupation. 
The memory of those days is a priceless possession. No scenes or 
events are stamped more indelibly on the mind and imagination. It is easy 
to visualize again those bleak, raw days, in February, when I first visited 
the Battalion boys at Mont-les-Neufchateau, and found that the thrilling 
news of movement made weather conditions a negligible quantity. The 
longed-for day of entry into the battle-line was about to dawn, and all were 
alert with preparation and anticipation. I shall never forget the joy it gave 
me to meet the eager group of boys from my own town, many of whose 
faces had long been familiar to me. Although I had been away from America 
for a month, the bits of information I carried were received as welcome 
' ' news ' ' from home. 

MOVING TO THE FRONT: SOISSONS 

There was onh- time for greeting and a renewal of old acquaintance- 
ship before the journey across France was begun and the Battalion took its 
place in the Soissons Sector. I shall ever count it a piece of good-fortune 
that, through special arrangements for my mission in France, it was possible 
for me to visit at once the men whom I had previously known in America, 
and through them and their good officers, to find almost immediate entrance 
into the confidence and companionship of a large group of Connecticut 
boys. Nor was it less fortunate that I should be able to go along with the 
men with whom I was to labor, in their first experience at the front. The 
special mission on which I was sent, together with the thousands of cigar- 
ettes which I carried for Manchester boys, proved to be an open sesame to 
the very work that I would have chosen above all others, had I understood 



70 History ok Tiik 101 st Machine Gun Battalion 

the conditions and anticipated results. Althouji;h I had done no work in 
the V. M. C. A. up to this time, as soon as the Chief vSecrctary of the 
Di\-ision understood the circumstances, he forthwith issued a "march" 
order for me to <^o with the Dixision into its l)a])tism of fire. 

ASSIGNED TO WORK WITH THE BATTALION 

A mere chance finally jjlaccd me at work with the lOlst Machine Ciun 
Battalion. The V. M. C A. Director had ^n\-cn me no assijj;nmcnt, but 
asked me to await de\-elopments. The city of Soissons was the scene of 
feverish cominjj; and ji^oing on the part of the American soldiers. In my 
anxious x'isitinj:; froni one ^rouj) to another, I noticed a number of covered 
Ford cars marked with the larj.(e letter "C". Upon inquiry, I found they 
belonjj;ed to the Machine Gun Battalion, which I had visited at Mont. 
One of the boys jokingly remarked, "Why don't you come along with us?" 
The suj.^gestion seemed a jijood one. I applied to the officer in charge, who 
readih' gave me a place on one of the cars which had just been unloaded 
from the train, and in a short time I was on the way to the Battalion ren- 
dezvous at Vregny. Returning to Soissons on the same night, I asked the 
Director if he had given me an assignment. " No." " May I then have my 
freedom for tomorrow?'" "Certainly." On the morrow, in one of the little 
narnnv streets of the cit\', I saw again one of those little Ford ambulance 
cars marked with a "C". I found it was in charge of Lieut. Powell, the 
Battalion Surgeon. Through his kindly aid I was soon able to load the car 
with canteen su|)plies from the Y. M. C. A. storehouse, and that afternoon, 
from the tail of the Ford, I o])encd canteen work with the Battalion, a work 
that was to continue until the Annisticc was signed and the boys had 
started for their homeward voyage. 

LIFE AT VREGNY 

How can 1 tell the story of those wonderful days? Such memories of 
mud and snow, cold and damp, — and other memories of clear skies and 
scattered wayside flowers, ruined buildings surrounded I))- trenches and 
shell-torn fields, hai)])\' comi)anionships, joll>' stories, and a cordial sjnrit of 
friendliness and cooperation. There were stolid French soldiers working at 
war as though it were a life-long occupation, and occasional night raids 
and air fights by day enlivened our introduction to the war-game, while 
the great sausage balloon only a few hundred yards awa\' was continually 
drawing the German fire in our direction. 

In the midst of these scenes ovu- first " Y " (.-antecn was a small jxirt of 
xm old building which had been shot to ])ieces by hea\"\' gun-fire. There was 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 71 

a doorway but no door. To overcome this obvious difficulty and to keep 
our "goods" safe, we secured a large sheet of corrugated iron and made it 
fast before the doorway, with a dislocated building stone. Further security 
(against hoboes, I suppose) was obtained by collusion with the guard. 

After much solicitation and earnest discussion the French Town Major 
placed a more suitable and commodious building at our disposal. By 
arranging some patches on the roof, repairing the doors and adding a cor- 
rugated iron finish to the crumbling fireplace, the boys soon made the " Y" 
a veritable center of social and business life. 

Here our canteen work was done and many letters home were written. 
Discussions on every conceivable subject, from French currency and the 
reasonable price of cigarettes, to the proper conduct of the War, were held 
at any hour of the day or evening. At Vregny we enjoyed the valuable 
services of a very helpful "Y" assistant, Mr. Edward Garrett, who had 
known many of the boys in Hartford. It was a cause of great regret to us 
all that later circumstances separated us. During the next few weeks we 
had many never-to-be-forgotten experiences. There were entertainments 
and lectures in the old cave, frenzied efforts to get canteen supplies, the 
trips to the lines with chocolate, cigarettes and other "necessaries," and 
strenuous hunts for souvenirs which later had to be thrown away. Most 
impressive to me, were the religious services held in the candle-lighted cave, 
in which the. boys participated with enthusiasm, interest and devotion 
such as onh- the circumstances under which we lived and served could have 
brought about. 

Who that passed through those experiences and witnessed those 
scenes, can ever forget the impressions of those first days at the Front — 
the dilapidated villages, long since emptied of every vestige of civil life, 
the shell-torn buildings, fields and factories, the long lines of barbed wire 
entanglements, the maze of trenches, the camouflaged roads, the old 
kitchens. "Rats Inn," the parked cars, the iron-roofed dugouts, the caves 
in the hillsides, the boom of the big guns, the whistle of the shells, the patter 
of the falling shrapnel, the burning observation balloon, the falling air- 
planes, the hum of the bombing planes at night, — first and more lasting 
impressions of modem warfare. 

EASTER IN THE VOSGES 

The weeks soon slipped by, and the order for us to move back into a 
rest area had come. For myself, at least, there was just a tinge of regret 
in leaving this place, which in spite of its discomforts, hard work and dan- 
gers, had become a center of friendships and associations that years could 
never dim nor destroy. At Soissons, I bade goodby to the Battalion and set 



72 History of Tiik 101 st jMachine Gun Battalion 

out for Paris, where I was given the eurious task of managing a hotel. After 
ten days, howe\'er. I again joined the Battalion on the night before Easter, 
in the muddy htlle village of St. Blin. In spite of the mud and rain and 
preparations for a new move, we had a memorable Easter service in the 
Y. M. C. A. barracks. Next morning the Battalion started, midst the usual 
rain, for the Toul front. Provision was made for the transportation of the 
Y. M. C. A. man, and so, with the officers and men, to whom I had become 
greatly attached, I went into the new sector, and by the kind invitation of 
the officers, slept that night in their barracks, surrounded by a conglom- 
erate mass of mud, water and trees, called by the French, La Grande 
Harcourt. 

LIFE IN THE TOUL SECTOR 

As it seemed inadvisable to put in a Y. M. C. A. at the camp itself, I 
was given charge of an Officers' Club at the village of Menil-laTour, and 
])cnuitted also to look after such work with the Battalion as was possible. 
This arrangement was continued for the next three months. It was always 
a pleasure and satisfaction to be with the Battalion boys on Sunday for 
religious services and to \^isit them at various times during the week with 
canteen or other supplies, and to welcome them at the tent in Menil. At 
Jouv, Raulecourt and Mandres, as well as at the camp in the woods, it was 
])ossil)le for me to visit the boys and. hold occasional services. It was not as 
uncommon as it was unorthodox, to open up a field or barracks canteen 
after the religious services on Sunday morning, and then attend a baseball 
game in the afternoon. No wonder that one of the boys from m\- own town 
remarked after such a day's experience: "Well, 'Doc', I guess you've gone 
the limit today." 

Here again, association and comradeship so close to the raw^ realities 
of life, in the tangled mazes of war, revealed the deeper currents of human 
life and made fast friendships where surface indications gave little promise. 
Time would fail me to tell of the journe\-s ])y night and by day, the difficul- 
ties in securing the needed sui)])lies, the kindness of officers and men in 
helping to lift e\-er>' load and make fruitful e\'ery effort, the cheerful o]3ti- 
mism and detenninatioti of all to make the best of whatever circumstances 
proffered. There were, indeed, special occasions which left indelible im- 
pressions u])on one whose task w^as in part religious. Such were the \'isits 
of Dr. Mid and Dr. \\)orhees; the former holding an imi)ressi\-i" communion 
.service and the latter preaching his last sennon, only three days before the 
fatal shell struck him. Hardly less notable were the Mother's Day services 
and the barracks service, when tliree boys were ba])tise(l and received into 
the membershi]) of the Christian church. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 73 

As Spring slowly unfolded into Summer and buds expanded into the 
heavy foliage of the woods, English daises and lilies-of-the-valley giving 
place to crimson poppies and the blue corn-flower, activities within and 
behind the lines changed accordingly. Through the agency of the "Y", 
entertainments of various kinds were staged out-of-doors, and athletics 
became the rage. I am sure that some of the Battalion will remember well 
the dances that were given, the backdoor canteen trade in magazines, ice- 
cream and chocolate, and the way the tn^ith had to be stretched in order to 
secure coveted baseballs, bats and mitts. It was during this period also, that 
our camp was visited and our boys ministered to by that quiet, womanly 
young "Y" worker. Miss Harriet Ellis, who soon gave up her life in this 
great service. Miss Edith Prescott and Miss x^nna deLacy Gary, also as- 
sisted us in canteen and camp activities at various times during these 
months. Moreover, through the kindness of various officers of the Bat- 
talion, I began to receive the first help from that long list of faithful "de- 
tails" who served in every conceivable way in the " Y" work. Most nota- 
ble of those at Menil, who continued afterwards to be my helpers, were 
Walter Smith, Godfrey Day and D. A. James. Without the enthusiastic 
and efficient help of these "details" it would never have been possible for 
us to carry on one-half of the "Y" activities which we did. 

When behind the lines June roses began to bloom and fields of wheat 
were spotted with crimson and blue, the order came for us to break away 
from the green fields and tree-lined roads and half demolished villages, 
which had become so familiar, and rush back towards the old Sector of 
Soissons to defend the city of art and fashion against a new Hun advance. 
Through fields of grain whitening for the harvest, and in clouds of dust 
which often enveloped our cars and turned wayside trees and shrubs from 
green to gray, we journeyed from village to village as part of the Division 
train, until we landed in the little hamlet of Coulommes, just south of Meaux. 

"THE FOURTH" AT COULOMMES 

Here we succeeded in getting a few canteen supjjlies and spent several 
happy days before the rush into the battle of Chateau-Thierry began. 
With bright skies and cheerful surroundings, the pleasant Fourth of Jul\- 
celebration, including special exercises, contests, and games, it seems, as 
one looks back, like the quiet hush before the breaking of the storm. During 
those few days it was my privilege to take many pictures of the boys of the 
Battalion and their surroundings, and everyone shows the spirit of cheer- 
fulness, jollity and happy assurance. Whatever the anticipations of the 
future, all carried their present burdens with light hearts and unreserved 



74 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

gaiety. The traininj; and experiences of two sectors of the fi<,'hting-Hne had 
accompHshed their pur]jose and the boys had become men seasoned to the 
tasks of war. 

HANGING TO THE WING OF THE CHATEAU-THIERRY DRIVE 

In a few days the movement into the lines began, and then the game 
of hide-and-seek in village, farm and grove, made the task of the Welfare 
Worker an especially dififieult one. Fortunately, I had secured a bicycle 
for my own service, and as we passed through the town of La Ferte, where 
the "Y" Headquarters was located for some weeks, I arranged with a 
French family for a room, in which I could leave a majority of my belong- 
ings, and thus follow with greater ease the movements of the Army. As 
usual, supplies were difficult to secure, but through the warehouses at La 
Ferte, Montreuil and later at Chateau-Thierry, together with French stores 
in several towns behind the lines, we managed to secure a passable quantity, 
not only for our own boys, but for a considerable number of other units. 
Sometimes I was entirely lost from our Battalion, and found them again 
only by scouring the country on the "bike." Sometimes the rush of work 
was so pressing and ]3oints of service so scattered that opportunity for 
"mess" had to be neglected. The eternal secrecy of the Army made the 
locating of units very difficult, and the swift movement in following the 
retreating Germans after the battle started, made havoc of all previous 
plans. But the kindness of our officers and men in assisting with the use of 
our ears when not needed for the work of the Battalion, and the unfailing 
courtesy of the M. P.'s of our Division made much work possible that would 
otherwise have seemed out of the question. I was always passed without 
question, wherever I wished to go, by the M. P.'s, whose acquaintance I 
had cultivated in the preceding months. 

And such experiences as those days of turmoil afforded! One night it 
would be a cot in the wood with the headquarters group, the next a bunk 
in an old deserted house at Montreuil with the kitchen contingent, next a 
bed in a French room at La Ferte with the bombs falling on every side, then 
a place in a ha\--loft at Bezu while the German shells whistled over our 
heads and burst in the fields beyond. It is impossible to forget that hot 
Monday noon in July when our ration truck, with the "Y" suppHes on 
board, crashed through the culvert in the central part of Bouresches, much 
to the annoyance of our Train Commander, Colonel Sweet zer, who was 
seeking to rush traffic forward with the greatest i)ossible speed. It was the 
experience of a lifetime to ])ass in the ration cart safeh' around that hot 
comer by the Chami)luisant Fenne; over the bombarded road towards 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 75 

Trugny, and slip into the wood where our boys lay, "digging themselves 
in"; to pass along that line with such nerve-calmers as cigarettes and 
chewing-gum; and to give a few words of greeting and cheer to our tired 
men. I can still see the shell-demolished roadside, and the bleeding, 
wounded Frenchmen we carried to the hospital station on our return. It 
was a kind of intuition that led us that evening to make no preparation 
for sleeping while big guns of our own field artillery were crashing away 
within a few rods of our kitchen quarters and German shells were bursting 
uncomfortably near. For when darkness had partially settled around us, 
the order came for us to move from our dangerous location, and in a short 
time we were seeking to thread our passage through teeming traffic, which 
on that summer's night, filled every available road and by-way with march- 
ing soldiers, ammunition trains and ration wagons. The next day we learned 
that on one of these jammed roads some of our own boys were killed and 
several wounded. 

Those days and nights were extremely exhausting ; and to one of sym- 
pathetic temperament distinctly trying. Up to this time it had been my 
privilege to write home about those who were injured, but now came an 
order from the Censorship Bureau that no casualties could be mentioned. 
I had regarded myself as a kind of link, semi-civilian and semi-military, 
between the boys at the Front and the friends at home. I had written 
scores and hundreds of letters concerning their affairs, their interests, 
difficulties and successes to the anxious ones across the sea. It was one of 
the deepest satisfactions of my work. Imagine, now, my feelings of defeat 
and helplessness, when, at the most trying time and under the greatest need, 
I could not write even a word of sympathy to a bereaved mother, or say to 
an anxious father that his son had received only a slight wovmd. The best 
that we could do was to hold a memorial service for the dead, secure 
pictures of the places where they fell and the graves where they lay buried, 
and minister as far as possible to those who were still living. It gives one 
confidence in the soundness of the morale of American youth to recall the 
splendid spirit our boys showed under these hardships, the loss of their 
companions, the continuous nervous strain of the danger zone, and the 
rack of perpetual bombardment. 

Naturally the strain did get on our nerves, and many became "jumpy." 
In spite of my supposed professional attitude, I cannot but remember with 
a bit of merriment the night on which a German plane, after having dropped 
a number of bombs in our vicinity, came down close to our "neck of the 
woods" and opened up machine-gun fire. There was a quick scurrying to 
deeper cover and an utter disregard of the presence of the Y. M. C. A. 
Secretary in the lightning flashes of profanity that consigned the German 



76 History of The IOIst Machine Gun Battalion 

aviator to a deeper pit than any of his bombs were able to make. When, 
the day after, we took a picture of one of the bomb-holes made a few hun- 
dred yards away from our camp quarters, one could not help wondering at 
th(> marx'cl of our cscajjc, absolutely unharmed, in sjjite of, or shall we say 
Ijccaiisc of, the shower of ])rofanity. 

DAYS AT COURTARON 

It was not long before we left the wood near Etrepilly and moved back 
to the little village of Courtaron for a period of rest. For weeks we had had 
no sure abiding place, and our " Y" canteen had been in cars, in dugouts, 
in the woods, or wherever chance brought a number of our boys together. 
In Courtaron it was possible for us to secure more adequate quarters. Much 
to the amusement of our boys and the advantage of an old French couple, 
we rented the village wine-shop and cleared out the bottles and cluttered 
debris of a generation. Tolerable quarters for writing and a good canteen 
were at our command, and with the aid of otu" good interpreter, M. Woro- 
nick, we were able to refit a considerable number of our men after the 
losses they had sustained in the big drive. From the store houses of the 
" Y ", the French shops in the near by town, with the addition of one good- 
sized load of toilet articles from Paris, we succeeded in supplying a large 
part of the demand for writing materials, smokes and sweets, and neces- 
saries for shaves and baths. Over the door of our canteen instead of the 
usual "Y" emblem, we kept the original sign, ''Md. de Vins et Liqueurs," 
which the boys insisted on interpreting as " Doctor of Wines and Liquors." 
Thereafter it was not considered at all out of place to inquire of the " Y " 
Secretary the present price of ''vin rouge'' \ 

Jvist as the drive in this sector began, the Paris office appointed me 
Religious Director for the Division, but the rush of events and difficulties 
with the Di\'isional Secretary made it impossible for me to accomi)lish more 
in this field than to secure a better understanding and cooperation with the 
hospitals and the Red Cross. 

BREATHING TIME AT ETROCHEY 

These Courtaron days of rest and recuperation with their baths in the 
Marne were soon to be ended by another order for movement, which be- 
cause of its direction, was hailed with delight. Just Ijeforc the movement 
began I went to Paris and secured permission from the " Y " to take a 
vacation of five days on the sea coast. On my way back to the new area, I 
learned that I had been a])]jointed Educational Director for our Division. 
This responsibility I accepted only on condition that the work involved 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 77 

should not detach mc from the regular " Y" work with the Battahon. In 
order better to accomplish this double work, Miss Anna deLacy Gary was 
assigned to our Battalion as my assistant, and her release from the Paris 
office for that service was promised in the near future. As soon as I reached 
the Battalion at Etrochey I found that my faithful and efficient "detail," 
Albert James, was already conducting a very successful canteen in my 
name, and we prepared to enlarge its facilities and also to establish a 
substantial educational work in this rest area. What with the privileges of 
bathing in the river Seine, field athletics under sunny skies, bountiful 
quantities of fresh milk and vegetables, large supplies of canteen requisites, 
and the promised "leaves", our camp life presented a bouyancy and opti- 
mism and a careless gaiet}' which, so far as I am aware, was not elsewhere 
equalled in France. 

We soon booked some fine " Y" entertainments, and the temper of our 
boys was well shown in the crowded audience seated on a bare floor, that 
listened most attentively to an hour and a quarter lecture by Dr. Gollier 
on the life of Napoleon. Our quarters were not comfortable, but passable. 
I had rented the school building and the Mayor's office, and secured the 
promised help of several good teachers preparatory to our educational 
classes, and had partially organized the work throughout the Division, 
when word came that "leaves" had been cancelled and we were again to 
move toward the Front. 

MISS GARY JOINS THE BATTALION 

The day before we left for the vSt. Mihiel Sector, Miss Gary arrived froin 
Paris, and thereafter remained, either with the Battalion or in close relation 
to its "Y" work, until our boys left Louvieres and started for Le Mans. 
Much of the later work in the Battalion was entrusted to her care and 
supervision. Living conditions for her were frequently difficult and trying. 
Dangers were often present and the work exacting. Yet always during those 
weeks and months, with quiet courage and uncomplaining faithfulness, 
she performed the duties assigned to her with credit and distinction, and 
brought into our camp associations a spirit of cheerfulness and devotion 
that made life easier for all with whom she came in contact. 

The unfailing courtesy and consideration of both officers and men, 
in the midst of conditions that otherwise would have been intolerable, made 
her presence possible and allowed the kindly influence of her noble woman- 
hood to be felt. She never hesitated to go into danger, to accept responsi- 
bility, or to serve the soldiers to whom her life seemed dedicated. Miss Gary 
was a Hartford woman and already well acquainted with a goodly number 
of the Battalion bovs. She had done errands for a still larger number be- 



78 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

fore comin<2: to ilie field. It was through her effieient aid in Paris that, in 
the preceding months, we had been able to secure the repair of watches, 
the pro]3er care of deposited funds and valuables, and the accomplishment 
of innumeral)le errands that ministered to the needs and desires of our army 
lads. From this time on. Miss Gary took charge of our " Y " accounts in the 
Battalion, assisted largely in securing extra supplies, supervised general 
canteen affairs, and looked after a thousand and one odds and ends that 
contributed to the success of our work. 



MOVING TO THE SAINT-MIHIEL SEGTOR 

During our week's trip, through Bar-lc-Duc and across the Meuse 
river to the Saint-Mihiel Sector, we had some very pleasant experiences. 
When near the danger zone the weariness of an all-night trip was partially 
compensated by delightful days of rest and refreshment in the beautiful 
beech woods. The Battalion officers generously made preparation for 
carrying our "Y" outfit with a considerable supply of canteen materials, 
and the " Y " people were invariably welcome at the mess of either company. 
It always filled me with pride and astonishment to watch the skillful way 
in which our boys handled the food supply. Think, for examjjle, of being 
favored with delicious soda biscuits at a roadside kitchen while waiting in 
a wood for the dusk of evening to conceal the further movement of the 
ami\' I Or imagine the successive sensations of piling out of the trucks after 
an all-night trip in a cold, drizzling rain to find, in an hour's time, a steaming 
hot breakfast ready to relieve your distress and make good cheer for the 
day ! All hail to the army cooks and mess sergeants, who not only made life 
endurable but were able to plant optimism in the most despondent and 
"crabbing" spirit! 

The varying scenes of the trip followed one another in quick succession. 
I see again the Sunday evening service by the roadside just before we 
entered the tmcks to pass by night through Bar-le-Duc, the soldier boys 
intent and joining with vigor in the songs, and now the boys are eagerly 
building, in the beech wood beyond Neuville, the leafy " Y" made from 
woven twigs and branches and covered with the kitchen fly. Soon it will 
be well stocked with goods from the warehouses at Souilly and Ancemont, 
and for a short time it will be the envy of the other " Y " men who pass our 
camp. But alas, for all our ])lans and pains! Two days later, at an hour and 
a half's notice, we were obliged to leave our hut bare as Mother Hubbard's 
cupboard, as the Battalion moved on to another wood. Our next "Y" 
establishment was a French officers' abandoned barracks in the Foret 
d'Amblon\'ille. There we succeeded in securing a good amount of supplies 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 79 

in spite of difficulties of transport. The patience and consideration of our 
officers and men was finely shown at this time by an untoward incident. 
While entering the camp the first night, several trucks slid off the slippery 
and crowded road. All were easily recovered except the one which carried 
the supplies and belongings of the " Y " Secretaries. It was not possible to 
get this truck into camp until half past ten the next day; yet not a single 
officer or man ever complained of the annoyance, trouble or labor, when 
speaking later of this accident. It was such treatment of welfare workers 
that raised one's estimation and appreciation of the real spirit and soul of the 
American officers and men. Strange associations were found in this forest. 
As dusk came on one evening some 1200 French Senagalese came in around 
our " Y" quarters and set up their tents. It was a sight long to be remem- 
bered when the next day these Senagals gathered in front of our hut to 
listen to the talking-machine set going for their benefit. 

IN THE BOIS DES CHEVALIERS 

When the drive began, my assistant and I were in Paris making ar- 
rangements to bring up books and magazines, and to fill a large number of 
special orders for the boys of the Battalion. On our return we were lost from 
our unit, but after an arduous search and through a series of fortunate 
circumstances, we were able to meet the Battalion just as its motor train 
wound into the valley near Seuzey at the close of the short, but exhausting 
St. Mihiel offensive. Our canteen was soon open and arrangements made 
for giving such assistance as we could, to the tired men. When we went 
from this exposed valley around to the trenches and dugouts in the Bois- 
des-Chevaliers, we found very cramped quarters for our "Y" work. But 
we soon arranged to secure a " Y " tent which the boys cheerfully assisted 
in erecting, furnishing and equipping. Here in this half-destroyed wood 
with the remnants of war all about us, we were reduced to the most primitive 
methods of living and operating. It seems, as one looks back, like a story 
of the primitive cave man. How we searched old trenches for bits of lum- 
ber, discarded benches and tables, old stoves and w^ater tankards! How 
diligently the boys labored to make our tent a real center of camp life! 
And I am persuaded that the success was porportionate to the effort put 
forth. It took us days to scrub out the old French soup kettle which we 
used for brewing chocolate. Our supplies we drew from every quarter, — 
the "Y" storehouses, the Commissary Sales at Ambly, and French stores 
in Bar-le-Duc from which we brought several loads. In this tent, screened 
from German view by great beech trees, we had our library and magazines, 
our chocolate outfit, our place for Sunday services, lectures- and entertain- 



80 History ok Tiik IOIst IMaciiine Gun Battaliox 

ments. And such chocolate as our chej\ " Bill " (ira\- turned out in ever in- 
creasing quantities! It was a "tent of meeting" and activity. In only one 
thing did we fail — when we attempted to secure a captured German piano 
from Dcuxnouds. Our bo\'s had almost loaded the ]jiano on the truck before 
they were discovered by French soldiers who claimed the trophy, and 
threatened to shoot if the instrument was not returned. Overpowering 
numbers and the French language defeated our well intentioned efforts. 



DEPARTURE FOR "Y" HEADQUARTERS IN VERDUN 

So the days sped by until one misty, muddy morning in October we 
were ordered to pack up and be oft' the following night, on the road toward 
Verdun. As we passed through Tro>'on, we left Miss Gary with her friend 
Mrs. Fleming at Divisional Headquarters. When we reached Caserne 
Beveaux, I found it impossible to secure an\' adequate canteen supplies for 
several days and little work for the Battalion could be done. 

At this time a more insistant call for my help came from " Y" Head- 
quarters at Verdun. Since an army chaplain had now been assigned to our 
Battalion, it was not likely that I could be of much serivcc outside of the 
canteen work so ably carried on by Miss Gary and the "details" from the 
Battalion. I felt that it would be better for me to assist more in the Divi- 
sional work. I took charge of the transport for the " Y" work of the Divi- 
sion, the central canteen in Verdim, and general liaison work with the army, 
until finallv I was appointed Di\'isional Secretary and given the care of the 
entire work for the Division. During these weeks in the Verdun Sector, 
when our bovs were suffering hardships that were almost tmendurablc, it 
was mv privilege still, with the assistance of Miss Gary and several of the 
boys, to put Y. M. G. A. supplies into the camps at Marre and Bras and to 
send what we could to the front lines where the Battalion was operating. 
Living amid the ruins of Verdun, Miss Gary continued to su]3erintend, even 
at a distance, the " Y" hel]) for our boys, and kcjjt our accounts untangled. 
Not only in this sector, but later at Louvieres, with the si)lendid assistance 
of William Gray, the work was continued. 

After the constant strain of weeks, the signing of ihe Armistice was a 
signal for such relief and joy as I have never seen or experienced. But not 
the proclamation of Peace nor the exaltation of ringing the bells in the 
Gathedral of Verdun, which i^rivilcge was first accorded 1)\- the iM-ench to 
the two Battalion " Y" workers, could exceed the glad feeling that greeted 
the group of Battalion boys who visited us in W^rdun next day on their 
first "leaves" granted them since their arrix'al in I^'^rancc. All their 
labors, hardshi])s, sufferings and successes were forgotten in the pro.spect 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 81 

of glorious freedom. The reward was nobly won and thoroughly a])pre- 
ciated. 

WINTER WORK IN THE NOGENT AREA 

Although the work at Divisional Headquarters was difficult, and our 
days full of anxiety because of the tremendous needs and the inadequate 
supplies at our command, nevertheless, there was always time to consider 
the special requirements of the Battalion and to attend to " Y " work among 
our boys. 

Perhaps it would not be a betrayal of confidence, as it is not aside from 
the truth, if I said that a woman representative of the Battalion at Head- 
quarters made possible many things for their comfort and satisfaction 
which could not be furnished to other parts of the Division. It was not by 
chance that one of the six pianos in the entire Division was located in the 
" Y " barracks at Louvieres and that one of the few shows procurable made 
our boys merry for a while. The one box of Christmas tree trimmings with 
the accompanying carols, that came into our Division, in some way went 
to Louvieres. Perhaps it was on this account that the Divisional Secretary 
and his assistant were enticed to be present at the Christmas tree and carol 
singing of the Battalion; but more than all else, I am inclined to believe, 
it was because of the experiences of the past, the work and association to- 
gether in the interests of a great cause, and the ties of friendship which had 
become stronger than a three-fold cord. During this winter at Louvieres, 
the kindness of the officers and men of oviv Battalion to the " Y" workers 
was shown again and again. Our drivers were sent to us from Headquarters 
by Captain Myers, then in command of the Battalion, and under his orders 
everything possible was done to make the "Y" barracks comfortable and 
attractive. When the Battalion left Louvieres it was not my privilege to 
see it again until we arrived at Brest — ready for the homeward voyage. 
I am sure that no happier lot could have befallen either Miss Gary or my- 
self than to be scheduled for the same boat which brought our boys home. 
It was a matter of great pride for us to be able to march in the Boston 
parade of the Yankee Division with those officers and men whom we had 
come to respect and admire and whose friendship we had come to treasure 
as a priceless possession. 






A I ont- Les- N euf chateau 

1. Entfiiiiu town — the niaiii stioet. 2. The Iowcm' fountain — used by C Coinjiany. ■'? C C\)ni- 
pany soiKoants. 4. Two husky bar-maids. ."). Tlic pistol range — H Coniijany. (i. B Company 
squad at pun drill. 7. C Company with M. (J. Section, l(i2d French Infantry as instructors. .S. B 
Company with French instructors on M. G. Range, Midreveaux. 



War Diary of a Machine Gunner 

Compiled by the Editor from diaries kept in the field by 

G. E. Bannister, H. R. Goodwin, B. P. Graff, E. H. Hart, R. D. Heymann 

and A. P. R. Wadlund. 



1917 

JULY 25. Called into Federal service and reported at Troop B 
Annory, Hartford, Conn. Work hard getting ready to leave. 

JULY 27. Started in A. M. for Niantic, Conn. A detachment started 
over land with the horses, the rest came by train. 

JULY 28. Detachment with horses arri\-ed after spending night at 
Colchester. Major Howard is in command of the Squadron, Captain F. E. 
Wolf of Troop A, Captain M. G. Bulkeley, Jr., Troop B, Captain R. W. 
Myers, Troop L and W. H. Welch, Troop M. 

AUG. 5. The Squadron was inducted into Federal Ser\'ice toda}-. We 
have been having snappy cavalr\- drills every day and stiff setting-up drill 
before breakfast each morning. 

AUG. 21. Orders published that we are changed to the 101st Machine 
Gun Battalion and the "Troops " will be "Companies." Ted Hampson got 
on a horse at the picket -line the other day and it ran away with him. 

AUG. 30. Some of the non-coms have been sent to Hartford, New 
Haven and New Britain after recruits. Results good. Nearly up to our 
increased strength of 172 men per company. Our horses were taken from 
us soon after we became machine-gunners. It was a sad day for many when 
they saw their old four-legged pals led away. 

SEPT. 10. There have been frequent Battalion parades at retreat, and 
there is great rivalry between the four companies to see which can make the 
best appearance. If any "bulls" are made the 1st sergeants are sure to 
deliver a long and forceful lecture before their charges are dismissed for the 
day. Every Saturday morning the pyramidal tents are furled and equip- 
ment laid out on the cots for inspection. There are occasional long hikes 
usually made by companies acting alone, and they are sometimes planned 
so that a half -hour rest can be indulged in on one of the isolated beaches. 
At "fall out" uniforms begin to peal oft" and the water is full of a }'elling, 
rough-housing gang of Indians. Great sport ! 



84 History of Tiik 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

SEPT. 15. Someone decided that B Company street presents a barren 
and tmhomelikc appearance. At reveille all was changed. Magnificent 
sunflowers smiled a "good morning" at the early risers from prominent 
places in the street. Great care was taken, however, by the horticultural 
decorators that their identity should not become known to the 1st Sergeant. 
One of the recent recruits of B Company was caught in the act of rendering 
a snappy salute to one of the brakemen on the train going to New 
London. 

OCT. 9. Tuesday. The Battalion, fully recniited, left Niantic at 11.05 
A.M. and passed through Hartford where a few relatives who had got wind 
of the move were waiting for a farewell gliinpsc of their soldier. 

OCT. 10. Last night tried to sleep three men in two car seats. Pretty 
crowded with all the equipment. A and B Companies in first section arrived 
at Montreal at 6 A. M. — C and D half an hour later. Detrained and went 
aboard H. M. S. Megantic. Assigned to quarters and life-preservers. Left 
dock 10 A. M. and stoi)ped off Quebec to take on 250 Serbian reservists. 

OCT. 12. Heavy sea in Gulf of St. Lawrence. Most everyone sick — - 
even the officers. B Company is on guard. Only five men left in guard 
detail not down and out. Any man in Company who looks able to stand u]j 
is grabbed and sent on post. Sea calmer tonight. 

OCT. 13. x\rri\'c Halifax. Our convoy assembling here. A hundred 
Canadian artillerymen from Toronto come aboard. They are a fine bunch. 
Saw ])iece of board floating by with word " Doomed" on it. 

OCT. 14. Left port 3 P. M. with one cruiser, three freighters and five 
transports — one of then the big Justicia with 5,000 Chinamen for labor in 
France. Cheering crowds lined the shore as we pulled out and ships dipped 
their colors, while the bands of British men-of-war played "The Star 
Spangled Banner." It was a wonderful send-oft". 

OCT. 15. Sea Calm. We are following a zig-zag course and steaming 
slowh'. Calls are about the same as in camp except drill. 

OCT. 17. A thick fog that shut in yesterday has lifted and all ships 
present. We have boat-drill and setting-u]) exercises every day. Line fonns 
for mug of beer in late afternoon. 

OCT. 18. Hail and squalls. Heavy sea. 

OCT. 19-20. Cold and clear. 

OCT. 21 . Hard gale. British destroyers met us at 3 P. M. giving com- 
fortable feeling of securiU". Oh, man, how they rolled and pitched! We are 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 85 

now in submarine danger-zone. Thank God for the British Navy! Sea- 
sickness epidemic. This is no picnic — war is hell! 

OCT. 23. Calmer now. Pass along coast of Emerald Isle into Irish 
Sea. Great excitement among the "Murphys" aboard. Dock at Liverpool 
4 P. M. City looks smoky and dreary. Entrain in English day-coaches 
7 P. M. Leave Battalion baggage with detail mider Lt. Westbrook, Sgts. 
Dicky Moore and Whit Tiernan. 

OCT. 24. Arrived this morning at camp in Borden near Aldershot. 
Mud, rain, cold ! Packed like sardines into those awful Gallipoli tents, all 
of which leak perfectly. Some of them blew down in the night on top of the 
men. If we had boats we could go rowing in the company street. Wouldn't 
mind it so much if we were Marines. Major Howard says, "So this is Merry 
England!" Captain Bulkeley says, "Merry hell!" Can't even find a dry 
place to roll the "ivories." Big riot trying to buy beer in the station at 
Birmingham — first glimpse of bar-maids for 101st. 

OCT. 25. Off again. Southampton at noon. March through city out 
to camp. More "blinkin' " Gallipoli tents! These have wooden floors — ■ 
hard, but not quite so wet as the ground. 

OCT. 26-28. Still cold as blazes. We go to town every night to argue 
with "blarsted" Tommies in the "ptibs." R. L. Jones got very well ac- 
quainted with one "blighter" in particular. Eats rather scarce but there 
is still some of the "bloomin' musty" on tap. Pipe-buying mania strikes 
Battalion. 

OCT. 29. We left camp at 1 P. M. A/[arch to dock and B Co. 
boarded S. S. Londonderry, C Co. following on another channel steamer. 
After hanging around in the lower harbor the Londonderry put out at 
10 P. M. Fearful gale and sea. Boat crowded with our men, American 
aviators and British Tommies returning from leave. These conditions 
made the process of being sea-sick interesting without hindering it any. 
We were blown out of our course and came within a couple of feet of being 
wrecked on the Isle of Wight. Suddenly the sea turned milky-white and we 
saw, even in the darkness, a great over-hanging cliff. The ship suddenly 
veered and sailors ran for life-boats — no doubt they would have been a real 
comfort in the terrific surf if we had smashed up against that cliff. Every- 
body was too sick to mind having a wreck anyhow — probably some hoped 
we would. The aviators were as sick as anybody and we doubted if they 
would ever be able to fly again. " Squab " Manning got chummy with one 
of them and they swapped hats — it was sickening sentiment. What a 



86 ITisioKv OF Till'. 101st M.\rnTNF. Gun BAxrAi.io.M 

lu'lliu'a iii.i;lu . ( )li, 1)()>' ! 'I'lic slii])'s officers said it was the worst stonn they 
had seen on llie Channel in two years. 

OCT. oO. We docked at Lc Havre at 8 A. m. far behind schedule. 
Went ashore and marched to one of those "rest" camps on the hill. Picture 
of Bamiister, nniniinx- Little and others tr\-in^f to lu^^ 1, ()()() lbs. of equip- 
ment up that hill, and the outfit with which to j;et a meal for 1 ,000 men. We 
are enjoyinj:;; the deli5.,dits of mass messing — one shovel, one knife, coal, stoves 
and "corned willw" Louis LcBlond sho\'elinij; coal willi the shovel, rinsing 
it, and then stirring the hash in the kettle. It is snowing. A rotten camp. 

OCT. M. After a (ierce night we left for the R. R. station to be intro- 
duced to "40 Ilommcs. S C/icvcanx." How do the French get that way — 
"40 Hommes'' ^ wIkmi the last man had squeezed into one of these "match- 
boxes" there was only room left for conversation and that was mostly about 
French railway facilities. 

NOV. \. Ell route. The French oflicials hand out hot "cafe, oh rum" 
when the train sto])s at a station. This is a pleasant bex'crage under the 
circumstances. 

NOV. 2. Arri\-ed Neufchateau S A. M. Hiked in rain to Mont-les- 
Neufchateau. Assigned to billets as soon as ])ossible. A Co. went to Cer- 
tilleux. B and D Companies crowded into wooden Adrian barracks, while 
C Co. drew barns and lofts along the main street. After e\'ening mess we 
inspected the town, giving s]K>cial attention to the leading cstamincts, of 
which there were three of note. 

NOV. 3. It is hard to get in or out of the Adrian barracks at night with 
men sleeping so closely huddled on the floor without stepj^ing on someone. 
This feat always brings loud protests from the would-be slee])ers. Signed 
payroll. Reminds us of that anny song — but we'll tell the world there are 
some other duties connected with the army in spite of the claim of that 
verse. 

N0\\ 10. Rain and nuid e\'er\- (la\'. " tin derbies" issued. Wood has 
to be hauled from the mountain for kitchen fires. Much street cleaning. 

NOV. 12. B company mo\ed from l)arracks to the chdlcan, the "Red 
Barracks" behind the church, and sundry other billets. 

NOV. 13. Measles in " Red Barracks" — ciuaraniine! The " ])risoners" 
can't associate with the rest of us. B Company's 1st Sergeant is among 
them and Rhe])ard is acting "Toj)." Details carry mess to them from the 
kitchen. The\- go u\) on the nK)untain and lug back wood every da>- and 
have setting-u]) exercise. 



History of The 101 sr Maciiink Gun Battalion 87 

NOV. 21. French Hotchkiss machine-guns have been issued at last 
and we have them set u]) in the billets where we can study them and see how 
their insides work. Expect to fire them on the range soon. Rain and mud 
as usual. Drill and wood hauling, varied by lectures on hygiene, sanitation 
and other military subjects. General Edwards ins]:)ected us a few days ago. 
Gardiner Hall got a "citation" for having a blouse button tmdone. Heard 
big guns gnunbling "up front" last night. Some humorous "agent" in the 
"Red Barracks" yelled, "All out with helmets, pistols, and gas masks!" 

NOV. 25. Rumor says American destroyers capture nine subs. 

NOV. 28. Quarantine on "Red Barracks" lifted today and the "pris- 
oners" let loose on the cafes. Lt. Westbrook and Sgts. Tiernan and Moore 
back from Liverpool. They got a lively welcome. They all have "bally 
English drawls don't ch' know, ol' deah!" 

NOV. 29. ']'hanksgi\'ing Day! Uj) the mountain for wood in a. m. 
Had wonderful dinner — all we could get outside of. 

NOV. 30. Hiked to machine-gun range at Midreveaux. Fired guns 
for first time. Poilus trying to teach us how to do it. They got excited 
because we couldn't "savvy " their lingo and resorted to shouting and a free 
use of gesture. This didn't help the accuracy of our shooting, but many 
of the little square targets on the hillside across the way got "knocked for 
a goal." It was an all-day job — going and coming. The rolling kitchens 
went along to serve a hot meal. All hands pretty tired tonight. Sgt. Maj. 
Dwight Pease, Sgts. Moore, Shepard and Thomas leave for Candidate 
School at Langres. 

DEC. 2. Sunday. Will I*2rwin s]jokc in " Y" tent. 

DEC. (3. Air raid expected on Neufchateau. Nancy bombed. Lt. 
Westbrook left for British school taking Biff Skinner as orderly, — j^retty 
soft for Biff. 

DEC. 0. The C Comjjany gang that was quarantined at Southainjjton 
came back. They brought word that Wallace Brown of B Company died 
in an English hospital. B Company men pretty well broken up over it. 
Perhaps we will get used to that sort of thing before we are through with the 
war, but doubt it. 

DEC. 23. Past three weeks have been taken up with drill, range 
practice, gas mask drill, pistol practice, 1,000 inch firing with the guns, 
street cleaning and lectures on various subjects. Sometimes we hike to 
Neufchateau, — if not too tired — to buy eats and get a taste of the "metrop- 
olis." We have been taking out Government insurance. The first issue of 



88 History of Thk 101 st Machine Gun Battalion 

the 'J'ripod, tlie crcalion of "Boz" R. 1 lawlcy of C Company, lias made its 
appearance on the news-stands of Monl. It is a welcome addition to our 
breakfast tabic. We don't know whether it is Republican or Democratic, 
but. to date, the Editor has not been called to fight any duels. We think 
" Boz " writes his editorials in the back room of the Cafe du Centre. Harry 
Smith made mess sergeant of C Co., Rodda goes to line sergeant. 

DEC. 24. Co. B had a Christmas eve party in the mess-shack. Joke 
presents made much fun, with Al Poto as "presenter" and chief clown. Al 
was "there forty ways" in spite of hax'ing been \-cry sick all day. Everyone 
was on hand froin the Major down. 

DEC. 25. The most extraordinary Christmas w^e ever had. The en- 
tertainment we gave the kids of Mont, with ])resents for every one of them, 
meant as much to us as it did to them, and that's going some. The idea of a 
' 'municii)al" tree was new to them. The afifair helped to ease that homesick 
feeling. Dr. Miel held church service at the " Y". Packages from the States 
poured in by the ton and billets were a litter, and nobody cared, for army 
discipline was allowed to slacken up a little for the time-being. In the even- 
ing C Co. sergeants ga\'e a ])arty in their billet and invited some of their 
colleagues of B Co. Christensen, Mackenzie, Cushman and Hastings re- 
ceived — and later ])()urc(l. 

DEC. 20. Cjould and "Hutch" upset a boiler of coffee in C's kitchen 
and burned their legs. 

DEC. 31. l^'ollowed usual routine since Christmas. This evening the 
sergeants of B Company returned the hospitality of their erstwhile hosts 
of C. "Dute" Parker and Ev Hart furnished much of the entertainment. 

1!)18 

JAN. 1. Drill called off. The [nteri)reler savs war will end in A])ril or 
May ! 

JAN. 4. Major Howard left for I^ritish M. C. schcxil— took Roy Iley- 
mann as orderl\'. Close-order drill in A. M. in dee]) snow. A bimeh of the 
agents are going to "Colonel" Woronick's French class in the evenings. 
Next day we spring our knowledge on our "landladies" and the kids — 
Henri, Marcel, Marie-Louise, and the rest. No reaction usuall\-, but the 
bar-maids seem to "comi)ree" when we say, " Donnv moor oon glass vin 
blink, toot sweet!" 

Jan. 5. Saturday inspection of eciuipment and billets, followed 1)\' tips 
from the " Medico" on what not to do to your feet. Comi)any B staged an 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 89 

official snow-ball battle on the field after drill. Company was divided into 
two "armies " and the " Top " acted as referee. The "barrage " was terrible, 
and the referee got so mixed up in the melee that no decision covild be given. 
Bannister had a bath and a stinger cocktail — both at the same time. 

JAN. 12. Rumor that we are to be a motorized outfit. Ben Perkins 
and Bannister settled the war to the satisfaction of all concerned. 

JAN. 17. A and D Companies transferred to the brigade machine-gun 
battalions. Tiernan says supposed civilians on the Megantic were U. S. and 
British secret service agents. Somebody inspected the kitchens and said 
they were nice. 

JAN. 20. News came we are to leave for Front within ten days! 
Great excitement and checking up of equipment. Some of the boys have 
visited Doinremy, birthplace of Joan of Arc. B Co. has finished some im- 
provements on kitchen — now a kitchen de luxe. 

JAN. 27. Trucks came and took us out to an artillery range for com- 
bined barrage practice with all the other M. G. units of the Division. Some 
noise ! It was a novel sight. Two "dog tags " were issued to each man today. 

FEB. 1. Several of our Sanitary Detachment have been transferred. 

FEB. 3. About one o'clock this morning we were awakened by a 
sentry running by the billet, bawling, "Fire ! " at the top of his lungs. Threw 
on some clothes and beat it out to see B Company's kitchen and mess-shack 
(Bannister's pride) a mass of flames. Although the kitchen section was a 
roaring furnace, those of us who arrived first were able to drag out a side of 
beef and such stores and utensils as we could lay hands on without getting 
burned. In a short time the entire Battalion had turned out and a bucket- 
brigade was formed from the nearest fountain. We managed to save about 
a quarter of the shed and prevented the fire from spreading to the storage- 
shed next door. 

FEB. 4. B Company was fed by C Company's kitchen today. 1st Sgt. 
Wainwright gets commission and is to stay in B Company. Sgt. Parmelee 
made "Top." 

FEB. 5. Fifty-two Ford ambulances came today as our motor trans- 
portation. They are in punk shape and we are rej^airing them as fast as 
possible. 141 men in C Co. put in applications to be drivers! Rumor that 
we go to Front this Friday ! 

FEB. 8. Said our last farewells to the good townspeojjlc and left in the 
flivvers at 3.15 P. M. Arrived Liffol-le-Grand 4 P. M. Had mess and then 
men found any old place to sleep. Some slept in the flivvers. 



90 History of The IOIst Machine Gun Battalion 

FEB. 9. The cooks worked most all nij^dit. We were routed out at 
3 A. M. — mess at 4. Fords loaded on flat-cars, men in "40 Ilomrjics," and 
train i)ulled out at 6. The kitchens will have to prepare the meals oi route 
on the flat-cars. Traveled all day through i)leasant scenery. Went through 
Chfdons and Bar-le-Duc. 

FEB. 10. Arrived at Braisne, 25 kilometers from the Front, at 3 a. m. 
Unloaded flivvers and kitchens. Started out in cars at 10 a. m. Get first 
real sight of the havoc of war — many ruins. Long lines of French camions 
and artillery going and coming. The novelty of all this keeps us pretty 
well keyed up. After interesting ride came to a little heap of ruins, once the 
town of Vregny. Here we unloaded and prepared for a stay. Vregny is on 
a plateau in the Chemin des Dames region and was in German hands last 
October. The Battalion was housed in an immense chalk cave, with the 
exception of a part of B Co., Headquarters Co., the Sanitary Detachment 
and the officers. A wooden barracks was used by B Co. There was a French 
balloon close at hand; and we could see many airplanes up toward the 
Front. They looked like mere specks and tiny pufl^s of white or black 
smoke popped around thein when the "archies*" tried to bring them 
down. 

FEB. 11. The trucks with kitchen equipment and cooks arrived today, 
not having been able to keep up with us. They got a hot meal as soon as 
possible and it was welcome. Not much work today, after the fatigue of 
our journey, so most of the gang amused themselves by wandering about 
in search of adventure. Someone picked up an old French rifle, didn't know 
it was loaded, so Yenco got shot through the arm. Always something new 
and interesting turning up. One of Uncle Sam's patented soup-wagons 
acted as if it had been hitched to the tail of a kite. Nash drove the truck 
that towed it. 

FEB. 12. Lincoln's Birthday was celebrated by the Boche staging an 
aerial show at which we had box seats. All was quiet when we were sud- 
denly startled by the rattle of a machine-gun close overhead and we looked 
up to see a Fokker plane dart from a cloud straight at our balloon. A little 
pufi^ of smoke, a burst of flame and the big "sausage" collapsed like a 
drunken sailor and sank to the ground. Not, however, until the observers 
had jumped and drifted clear in their parachute. The avion took a crack at 
the men in the parachute, but he had to beat it because two French fliers 
were coming in pursuit. The balloon observers always get the Croix de 
Guerre or the palm-leaf clas]) when they have to jump. 



♦Anti-aircraft Guns. 



1. Chuich at Vregny. 2. Flivvers at Vregny. 3. German "hate" — Cheinin des Dames. 4. "Y' 
at Vregny, 5. Pinon Hill. 6. Ailleval. 7. Old mill billet at Fontaine. 



92 History of Tiik 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

FEB. 13. One of our sentries jj^ol excited last nij^ht and j^^ave a false 
<::;as alarm. He had us all scrambling for our masks. It is a known fact that 
Brackctt and Schade tried to get into the same mask. Many air battles 
which never cease to give us a thrill. Some of the officers went up to the 
trenches for reconnaissance. C Co. cooks put up a sign outside the place 
they use for a billet which reads "Rats' Inn." Someone went to Soissons 
for eggs and only got two quarts of Burgundy. B Co. cooks turned out 
1.094 doughnuts. 

FEB. 15. The French and Germans seem to have an unwritten agree- 
ment to keep hands off one another when washing clothes in the canal 
which loms between the lines. American doughboy sees Boche scrubbing 
awav on the bank, and proceeds to fill him full of lead. This makes the 
"Frogs" wild, as they know it will be hazardous for them to wash there in 
future. The Yank idea is that Boche are vermin to be exterminated on 
sight, and they have no right to be clean anyway. This evening a flock of 
German planes passed overhead, probably on their way to bomb Paris. 
The sky was filled with French flares, searchlights and bursting shrapnel 
from the "archies." We were ordered into the dugouts to escape falling 
fragments. 

FEB. 16. It is reported that a "soup-wagon" of the 103rd Inf. got a 
direct hit from a high explosive. Major Howard has returned from British 
M. G. school. Movie show in the "Cave" tonight. B Co. pulled out for 
the front lines. Things are quiet. It is some sensation to drive over strange 
roads in the dead of night not knowing when you may hit something or 
slump into a shell-crater. If a shell bursts close there is no chance of dodg- 
ing the splinters while in a flivver. The Company left in sections with in- 
tervals between. Part went to Pinon and part to Ailleval. A French colonel 
stop]jed us and would not let us go ahead until some Boche shelling fur- 
ther up the road had died down. Finally we reached Pinon Hill and un- 
loaded the cars. While we were carrying the guns up the trail through the 
woods shell began to fall at regular intervals into the cemetery close on 
our left. It was our first experience with them coming near, and we were 
a bit jumpy in consequence. We could not help wondering when one would 
burst among us. The guns were set up in the emplacements and the squads 
settled in their dugouts as quickly as possible. The dugouts had been 
made by the Germans during their occujjation, and were dee]) and well 
•constructed, with an eye to safety, comfort, and ventilation. The other 
.section of the Com])any reached Ailleval without incident. 

FEB. 17. Sample mess fare: bread, coffee and butter at noon ; jjancakes 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 93 

and bacon, 5 p. m.; beefsteak and potatoes, 1.30 a. m.; tomato stew and 
bacon sandwiches, 5 a. m. 

FEB. 18. "Doc" Hesselgrave opened a "Y" at Vregny. 

FEB. 24. Turkey dinner in the hnes. vSuppose it is Christmas turkey 
which has been on its way "through channels." Boche shelled balloon and 
got it in six shots. 

FEB. 26. Yesterday Howard Manning got a shell-splinter in the face 
— not serious. First battle casualty for Battalion. At Pinon and Ailleval 
there is not much to do by day, except to sleep and sit around chewing the 
rag or to watch air fights. The arrival of the rations from the kitchen 
where w^e have to send a detail for them is an event. At night, however, 
things are different. At "stand to" the guns are put in the firing pits and 
trained on their invisible targets by means of aiming-marks and the level- 
bubble. French guns are paired ofl; with ours and we find the "Frog" gun- 
ners fine chaps and always anxious to help us. Dr. Hesselgrave came up 
one day with "Y" stuff. He got caught in one of the dugouts at Pinon by 
some heavy shelling. They were bouncing some big ones right on top and 
the concussions put out the candles time after time. The lieutenant would 
not let the doctor leave till shelling had been over for some time. The other 
day there was a gas alarm. Wore masks for a little w^hile until officers gave 
word danger was over. Last night two of our guns were taken out with 
one of the French guns to do harassing fire. After shooting a bit, our posi- 
tion must have become known to the Boche, for his artillery began to comb 
the woods directly in front. The shells burst closer and closer until the 
French officer in charge yelled, "Au boyeau!'' — we thought he said "Oh, 
boy!" at first. We all tumbled into the "Boyeaii Tigre,'' a communication 
trench just behind us, named after the "Tiger of France", Georges Clemen- 
ceau. There was not a moment to lose, for no sooner had we strtick bottoin 
than fragments came zipping down into the trench, and the rolling barrage 
passed over and beyond. Later the French told us we were capable of doing 
this night harassing on our own hook, and our own officers worked out the 
firing data. One night several of our guns were firing from a clearing in the 
woods. Our fire was answered almost immediately by a German machine- 
gun across the canal. Every time we shot a string he would do the same, 
and his bullets spattered all around and against the tree trunks in back of 
us, so that it was necessary for everyone to take cover in shell-holes — all 
except the gunner and loader, and they had to lie flat, reaching up to pull 
the triggers. This was possible because guns were clamped securely on the 
target before starting to fire. Six guns of B Co. from the Pinon position 
were ordered out one night to help put over a raid on the Boche. Four 



94 History of Tm: lOlsr MAniiNE Gun Battalion 

French jj^uns went with us. After ;i lialf-liour's marc-h in the dark we came 
to our firinj^^ ])oint, set u]), and carefully rej^ailated the ^^uns. In daytime we 
would have been in plain sight of the enemy, so we had to ]nit burlap on 
l)oles in front of the s^un muzzles to hide the flashes. 'I'he guns shot through 
the burla]j which was wet down in order to prevent it from catching fire. 
We were ordered to work the pieces as fast as ])ossible for ten minutes, and 
they soon became white hot, so thai we had to hunt for water in the bot- 
tom of shell-holes to throw over them in order to keep them cool enough to 
work. In s])ite of i)recautions it is a wonder that we did not bring down 
arlilk'r\' lire on our heads, but not a shell landed — at least very close — 
although the Boehe rei)lied hard enough against other points within our 
lines. As far as we know this is the first time that American machine-guns 
have been used to lay down a l)ox barrage in su])])()rt of a raid. The 
whole affair was completely successful. 

FEB. 27. B Co. returned to Vregny after being relieved by C Co. The 
relief was pulled ofif without an\- accidents, it being a quiet night and rainy, 
and was accomplished on schedule time. "Col." Woronick, the Bn. "In- 
terrupter", came back from the front and said. "The Americans are crazy 
— they think they are at Coney Island!" B Co. got paid tonight. Bn. 
Headcjuarters is at Cruet e D'Allenianl. 

MARCH 1. Cold and snow. Dr. Shanklin, president of Wesleyan, 
gave a talk in the "Cave" tonight. The Trinity bunch among us gave him 
their yell which made a hit with him. Balloon downed again by a plane. 
Lt. Amorx- with two guns of B Co. sent down to front line position at 
Vauxaillon to reinforce Ca])t. Westbrook's M. G. Company of l()4th Inf. 

MARCH 8. Sunday, jack Wiley's father, "Y" secretary, visited him. 
Dr. Hesselgrave held ser\iee in "Cave" in A. M. Dr. Rudyard spoke in 
)>. M. The raid of last month brought the Division a letter of praise from 
the I'rench general, de Maud 'lluw 

MARCH 7. C Co. is having about the same exi)erience u]) front that 
B did. Toda\- they got a good dousing of gas, i)artieularl\- in the kitchen 
at Pinon. Two meals had to be chucked away as they had become "in- 
fected". B Co. is drilling, hiking, and having athletic games every day to 
keep in condition. 

MARCH S. Green diamonds, our special Bn. insignia, ])aintcd on 
helmets. 

MARCH '.). Big air raid on Soissons toniglit. "Archies" and search- 
lights going all annmd. Much excitement. The rhxthmic drone of Boehe 
inotors is unmistakable. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 95 

MARCH 10. C Co. came back to Vregny tonight and B Co. went up 
front. They found their old French friends waiting them. Lt. Lostis of 
the machine-guns is very po])ular with our officers and men. Another air 
raid on vSoissons. Big night! 

MARCH 11. A quiet day — very little firing heard anywhere. It is 
warm . 

MARCH 13. Bochc ])lane flew over just al:)ove tree-tops this p. m. 
He was followed by a fusilade of M. G.'s and rifles. He dropped a note which 
a doughboy ])icked up. It said that he had once lived in x^merica, that a 
brother had been shot down by the Americans, and that he had vowed to 
"get" a hundred of us by way of revenge. How does he get that way — a 
hundred Yanks for one dirty Hun ! We expected him to come next day and 
laid for him, but he didn't show up. Perhaps some Yank "got" him. 
Yesterday Co. C sent a detachment under Lt. Agnew to relieve B Co.'s 
section at Vauxaillon. 

MARCH 14. Sending details every day to help 101st Engineers dig 
new dugouts. Did harassing fire as usual and Fritz "picked on us" again 
toniglit. They dro]Jijed a lot of shell near our dugout. 

MARCH 15. Moved into new dugout as our old one was getting too 
much attention from Fritz. 

MARCH 16. Getting ready to be reheved tonight. Boche poured 
gas shell in a steady stream into town of Pinon from 5 to 8 o'clock. French 
soldiers the only occupants and they beat it. Some Frogs came past our 
place driving a small herd of pack burros to get them away from the gas. 
Gas began to sift up to our positions and we had to put on masks for a 
while. Fords came to take us back, but just as we were ready to pull out, 
things began to happen. S.O.S. flares went up from the front line trenches 
calling for a barrage, so we had to postpone our leaving and answer the 
call. Artiller\- and M. G.'s opened up all about. A German "dud" landed 
just in front of one of our emplacements and covered the men with dirt. 
This show continued for some little time, but finally let up, and we went 
ahead with our relief. The firing broke out again while we were on our 
way back to Vregny, but no shell came near us. Our batteries of all calibers 
were ripping up the sky for miles around, and it made a grand sight. Sec- 
tion of C Co. up in the Vauxaillon position had a merry time of it. A dud 
struck the tripod of Cpl. Comerford's gun and went right between his legs 
as he was sitting at it. The French would not permit the relief of this 
section tonight on account of the heavy shelling. 



96 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

MARCH 17. C Co. section came out safely toiii<j;hl. Bn. is leaving 
Chcmin dcs Dames. 

MARCH 18. Left Vrcgny at 8.30 a. m. The rolling kitchens nearly 
fell apart from the towing over the rough roads. Went through Soissons 
to Mercin where we entrained at 1 o'clock. Pulled out at 4.40. Boche 
planes flew^ over and .some big shells burst not far off as a send-off. We ex- 
pected to be bombed. 

MARCH 19. Arrived Bricnne-le-Chatcau at 7.20 a. .m. and unloaded 
the Fords. Had good chance to look over town. They tell us that Napoleon 
went to school here. Loaded stuff into flivvers and left. Passed through 
Bar-sur-Aube — quite a town — and landed in Fontaine, 11 a. m. The two 
companies quartered in old, but roomy and picturesque, lumber mill. The 
officers, Hqrs. Co. and Sanitary Det. billeted around in houses. 

MARCH 20. Given leave to visit Bar-sur-Aube tonight. It is a nice 
town. There are many vineyards in this section. From the hill back of the 
town we got a magnificent \-iew. Wood for the kitchens is very hard to 
get — far different from the Front where it can be had in i:)lenty for the 
picking up. 

MARCH 23. Fine weather. Outfit mo\-ed out at 8 a. m. Reached 
Colombey-les-deux-Egliscs, 10 a. m. Part of the gang billeted in cheese 
factory. Several units of our Division, infantry and M. G.'s, passed through 
going south. A big staff-car came bowling through with klaxon shrieking 
like a fire-engine. It was Gen. Pershing and the vSecretary of War. The 
French papers say the Germans have captured Pinon Forest. Looks as if 
we got out just in time to esca]3e being wa]Ded out or spending the rest of 
the war in a German ]jrison-camp. It looks like a big drive. 

MARCH 24. Pulled out 10 v. m. and came to \'ignory at noon. Some 
of us again billeted in a cheese factory near the Marne. In p. m. climbed 
a steep hill to .see the ruins of a castle said to have been built in 11th 
Century. There is a very old church in town and it is in good condition even 
now. Destruction of war has not come to these towns. 

MARCH 25. Off again 7 \. m. Arrive St. Blin 11 a. m. Found the 
bunch we had left at Mont with our 1 )arrack-bags and baggage. Papers .say 
there is a big gun firing into Paris from the eneiny lines. It is said to be 
at Anizy which is one of the towns we enjoyed firing at from Pinon Forest. 
The British and French arc retreating. Rumor says we will soon be "in" 
again. Drive is on in earnest. 

MARCH 28. Tlu- Bn. baseball team trimmed an infanlrv outfit. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 97 

MARCH 31. Easter Sunday. Lt. Cassidy joined C Co. 

APRIL 1. Left St. Blin 8 a. m. Through Neufchateau and Toul. 
Halted at Toul, and a French civilian came up and said in good English 
that he used to live in Worcester, Mass. and had been in bathing at Savin 
Rock! Passed through Menil-la-Tour and came to La Grande Harcourt 
(The Swamp) 2 p. m., where we took possession of some wooden barracks. 
The mud was knee-deep. Relieving our 1st Division. There is an American 
balloon unit near us. 2d Platoon of C Co. went up to reserve position in 
Mandres-aux^-Tours. 

APRIL 2. 1st Platoon C Co. to Raulecourt. 

APRIL 8. Thirty replacements arrive. 

APRIL 11. Waked up at 4 a. m. by gas alarm. They had thrown some 
gas shells up on the road and the stuff had drifted down on us. It did not 
last long. Billy O'Niel left for the States yesterday to help in the Liberty 
Loan drive. We were glad he had this wonderful chance and gave him a 
good send-off. 

APRIL 12. At 2.30 B Co. was ordered to have eight squads ready for 
an emergency. Toward night march orders came and seventy men moved 
out in their Fords. After covering sixteen miles at fast clip we arrived, 
midnight, at St. Agnant on the extreme left of Division sector. There was 
heavy shelling going on on both sides. We unloaded and started up to the 
trenches on foot. Many wounded were being brought out and we learned 
that the 104th Inf. was having a tough time fighting off repeated Boche 
attacks. Stumbled on through dark trenches and finally reached a dugout 
in the front line where we found some of the 103rd M. G. Bn. 

APRIL 13. Our dugout leaked from above and was cold and muddy. 
We had no blankets and tried to rest sitting on our ammunition boxes. 
There were two German prisoners in the stairway above. Suddenly a 103rd 
M. G. Bn. officer rushed in and gave orders to wake everyone and be ready 
to stand off an attack. A heavy barrage had started and "whiz-bangs" 
were dropping on all sides. Our boys were at their guns. After awhile the 
barrage stopped. A doughboy with a terrible stomach wound was brought 
into the dugout. The 104th losses have been heavy, but they stopped the 
Huns. It is a great regiment. About five that afternoon we were warned 
that the Boche were in our trenches and our artillery sent down a heavy 
barrage. The barrage was short, and killed a number of our infantry. We 
sent up rockets to lengthen fire, which they finally did, much to our relief. 
We could look into the town of Apremont not 500 yards away where the 
Boche, no doubt, were trying to get a chance to snipe at us. 




/H./.' I 




The Toul Sector 
1. Officers' barracks at Harcourt — "The Swamp". 2. Kitchen cang at Harcourt — B and C Com- 
panies. 3. ,Iouy. 4. Hattahon barracks at Harcourt. 5. B Company Section M. G. nest near 
Mouville. 0. Field of fire from the M. G. nest — looking toward .Vprcinont. 7. Kntrance to 
"The Swamp" — road from Menil-la-Tour to Front indicated by line of trees S Church at Flircy. 
9. Billet of Company C Platoon at Mandrcs. 



History or The 101st MachineGun Battalion 99 

APRIL 15. Yesterday and today fairly quiet. Guess this particular 
show is over. At night, after being on watch for four hours at a stretch one 
begins to see queer objects moving about in the wire out front. Went 
along a communication trench this p. m. and picked up some German rifles. 
Half a dozen dead Boche in the trench, more in the wire. They found out 
the Yanks weren't such easy picking. 

APRIL 18. Both sections ordered back to St. Agnant last night. 
Found some more of the company there, having come up as a reserve. 

APRIL 19. All of B Co. returned to the "Swamp" last night at 2 a. m. 
Resting up today. The balloon gang, nearby, amused themselves by sending 
up small paper balloons and firing at them with their M. G.'s for practice. 
The "delousing wagon" came to fumigate our clothes and blankets. 
Rumor that the 26th is to be sent home! We don't fall for that stuff. 

APRIL 20. Terrific barrage started at 4.30 this morning. The Germans 
pulled a big attack on the 102d Inf. at Seicheprey, using their special "stiirm- 
truppcn\ The doughboys were driven from some of their trenches, but 
wouldn't give way any more than that. There was hand-to-hand scrapping 
all about the town and the devil to pay. Capt. Locke, 102d, reported killed. 
Major Rau distinguished himself — a fine officer. Again the Boche have 
learned something about Americans and have paid well for the lesson. The 
Battalion got orders to be on the alert, ready to move out to their help at 
a moment's notice, but no further orders came. C Co. platoon at Mandres 
suffered from the general shelling. Molinari, Berlin, and Jack Stoddard 
wounded. A gas shell dropped in one of our billets, gassing Jack Alexander, 
Pop Allen, Lindsay, and Geo. Barnes. Tony Telesca says while driving 
"Doc" Powell to Mandres an ambulance right in front of them was hit by 
a shell and two of its occupants kil'ed. Boche plane swept streets of Man- 
dres with M. G. fire. Nobody hit. Emergency rations issued and men told 
to sleep with all clothes and shoes on. A gas shell dropped near the Balloon 
and our men in the "Swamp" got the alarm and had to put on their masks. 
Artillery continued all day, but let up some as the night wore on. 

APRIL 21. No one allowed to leave the "Swamp." Someone came 
back from Mandres and said that Major Rau's battalion had been hard 
hit, but had stood like a rock. They had driven back a superior number of 
the Boche's picked troops. We are proud that these are Connecticut boys, 
and we know many of them personally. They say the wire in front of our 
positions is strewn with dead Boche. Word came that Joe Molinari is dead. 
He is the first man of the Battalion to be killed by the Gennans. Six men 
were sent to Mandres from C Company's 3rd Platoon tO replace the casu- 



100 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

alties. What is left of the civil poi)ulation of the towns around here is beat- 
ing it. It is getting a little too hot for them, though it is sur]jrising how long 
they will cling to their homes, and what risks they will run to do it. Con- 
siderable artillery fire during the day. 

APRIL 24. Rain as usual. 3rd Platoon, Co. C, relieved 2d at Mandres 
— in p. M., as it was thick and cloudy, with no chance for enemy observation. 
No smoking out-doors at night. 

APRIL 26. 1st and 2d Platoons of B Co. sent up to Apremont Sector 
on S.O.S. call. More devilment is expected from the Boche. Platoons went 
up on a hill near St. Agnant and set up a barrage-battery of eight guns 
camouflaged in the woods, and waited for S.O.S. signals from the front 
trenches. The guns w^ere laid on the Boche trenches. Artillery on both 
sides started up during the night and our signal came, so the little guns 
started to spit in great shape. We got a little gas and had to wear inasks 
for a while. After a time, the hubbub died down and we ceased fire with the 
artillery. If there had been an attack down front it had a]jparently been 
nipped in the bud. When dawn came we saw a large tree some distance in 
front of our guns, which had been almost cut in two by one of them. The 
guns had been set in the blackness by compass and bul)l)lc, and we had no 
way of knowing that the tree was in line with the gvni. If it had fallen 
during our fire we surely w^ould have thought the whole German anny was 
upon us, for it would have made a tremendous crash. No place to sleep 
except open trenches, and the rain and mud makes it difficult. We don't 
know how^ long we will be kept here. Some dugotits were found a little 
way in rear, w^here men not actually needed to work the guns were sent 
for rest. Very damp and cold. Capt. Bulkeley says our bullets could be 
seen from our front trenches kicking up dirt from tops of Boche trenches. 
This makes up for our discomforts. 

APRIL 29. Platoons pulled over to the right and relieved 103rd M. G. 
Bn. in M. G. nests overlooking No Man's Land toward Apremont. Co. 
P. C. moved to Liouville. We are suspicious of the civilian inhabitants, as 
they say that some of them secretly sympathize with the Boche. At Man- 
dres, the hands on the church clock used to change position in a mysterious 
sort of way, although the works were all smashed. A guard was set to 
watch the clock in an effort to catch someone signalling. 103rd boys re- 
ported that they had seen Boche in the wire in front of the M. G. nest 
nearest Apremont, so we got ready to settle thein if they should come the 
next night. Several of the Battalion officers came up to get in the fvm, and 
hid themselves out in front in the grass. One of the officers stalked a boul- 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 101 

der which he thought moved hke a man in the darkness, but nothing more 
serious happened. 

APRIL 30. 1st Platoon, Co. C, at Raulecourt reheved by 3rd Platoon, 
Co. B. This is a good town to billet in. A French "archie" battery near by 
furnishes excitement rather often. Bn. Hqrs. and B Co.'s train moved to 
Jouy. 

MAY 2. We sewed on our first six-months' service stripe. Each com- 
pany adopted a French orphan — 12 francs for each man. The weather is 
getting fine now. 1st and 2d Platoons, B Co., moved to Jouy from Liou- 

ville at night. Fierce driving! 

MAY 5. Sunday. Dr. Hesselgrave came from Menil-la-Tour and held 
services for C Co. in the "Swamp". 

MAY 8. Our men at Raulecourt are getting to know the Mclntyre 
sisters who run the Salvation Army hut there. They are certainly wonder- 
ful girls, and are not afraid to take their chances with gas and shell. If the 
Boche should break through, you bet we will see to it that they are sent 
to the rear in safety. 

MAY 12. Today is "Mother's Day", and everyone wrote home. B 
Co.'s two platoons at Jouy are having an easy time now. Their non-coms 
are getting some practical instruction in map-reading and rough surveying. 

MAY 15. Capt. Myers starts a war of his own on C Co. mess-kits. 
Sgt. Bruemmer at Raulecourt got a bullet through his gas mask while com- 
ing back from work on M. G. emplacements. Could not discover where 
it came from. Band concert at Jouy in p. m. 

MAY 16. We hear that inspectors have gone through our barrack 
bags back at St. Blin and condemned a lot of our stuff. Wonder if there 
is anything left. Bn. baseball team played Yale Mobile Hospital and beat 
them 6-2. 

MAY 19. Took baths in a pool in the woods. Report that Major 
Lufberry of Wallingford, Conn., was killed today near Menil. His plane 
caught fire and he jumped. This is a great loss to our flying service. He 
was attacking a German plane. They say a French aviator got the Boche 
before he could get away. 

MAY 21. Big guns are moving up into the "Swamp." Rumor that 
we are going to take Mont Sec with aid of French Algerians. 1st and 2d 
Platoons of B Co. moved back to "Swamp" from Jouy. Goodwin's car, 
last in line, got lost and nearly ran into front lines. Reached "Swamp" at 

1.15 A. M. 



102 History of The 101 st Machine Gun Battalion 

MAY 22. "Our Elsie" janis gave the Battalion a show at the "Y". 
It was great! We sang and laughed with her. It is a relief to have some 
reason to laugh these days. 1st and 2d Platoons of B Co. moved up to 
front at Bois de la Hazelle. Rumor of new kind of gas named after Edison, 
that the Amerieans are going to feed Fritz. It is supposed to be much worse 
than anything yet tried in this war. 1st and 2d Platoons. C Co., sent to 
Bemecourt. Milage pretty well shot uj). 

MAY 24. C Co. cooks at Bernecourt found head of a shell partly 
buried in their dugout. It was looked upon with suspicion as some fine 
wires were attached to it. Lts. Eaton and Agnew were notified, and, after 
poking gingerly around, summoned the French Town Major. After more 
pussy-footing, it was dug u]) and proved to be a candle holder. The laugh 
was on us, bvit it made a good souvenir. 

MAY 2t). The Chaplain of the 101 st Inf. held ser\-ices in the shell- 
torn church at Bernecourt. A dud from an anti-aircraft gun fell near the 
"Y" hut today. One chap was walking along carefully balancing a full 
mess-kit and a cup of cofTee. He dropped both and beat it for cover. The 
boys gave him the "razz". Whenever planes come directly overhead it is 
advisable to hunt cover, as there is sure to be a lot of flying shrapnel from 
the air barrage. The Boche have been sending over paper balloons w'ith 
propaganda messages tied to them. You can hear our doughboys popping 
at them with their rifles. ^ 

MAY 27. Pretty lively at Bernecourt. Much artillery fire and gas. 
Report that Germans tried to pull a raid in the night. Gas alarm sounded 
at 2.30 A. M. A sergeant killed and several Americans wounded in artillery 
post just in front of us. The boys are taking inventory of available dugouts. 

MAY 28. Gas alaiTn 2.45 a. m., Bernecourt, so sat up and inhaled a 
mask for a while. B Co., 102d M. G. Bn., in charge of our former Lt. 
Courtney, arrived at 9.30 p. m. and relieved us. The road was being shelled 
and gas alarm sounded as we were pulling out in the flivvers, but we 
reached the "Swamp" safely. A boiler was sent down from B Co.'s kitchen 
in Hazelle Woods riddled with shell-holes. 

MAY 30. Memorial Day. Latest rumor we are going to Italy! 
Papers say Boche are near Soissons. Our troo])S are getting ready for a 
big raid. We saw the 101st Engrs. going u]) with all sorts of contrivances 
to lav out F'ritz with — such as baseball Iiats woimd with barbed wire. 

MAY 31. The Yanks "went over" last night, but only caught one 
young Boche who was scared to death. The rest had beat it when the\' 
found our bovs were coming to call. Our (loughbo\-s followed our own 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 103 

barrage so closely that many were overcome by the fumes of explosive, 
and the ambulances were kept running back and forth. The raid was on 
Richecourt. C Co. assisted in the barrage, and the 3rd Platoon fired over 
12,000 rounds of ammunition. There was certainly a terrible uproar. C 
Co.'s baseball team played the 29th Engrs. in the p. m. and got trimmed 
9-7 — this was the bunch back in the "Swamp". 

JUNE 1. Word came in that B Co.'s platoons in Hazelle Woods have 
been getting some shelling and gassing from time to time. They have an- 
swered several S.O.S. calls, and their guns helped to stop a Boche raid on 
Flirey. An Allied plane fell across No Man's Land and the Boche propped 
up the wings so that the painted circles would make good targets for our 
gunners. This is their idea of humor. It is rumored that big doings will 
come off on this front soon. 

JUNE 6. The inen at "Swamp" were taken to Menil in trucks for bath 
and clean underwear. Hear that shell made by the Scoville Mfg. Co. of 
Waterbury, Conn., have been shot over at the Yanks — probably Russian 
ammunition captured by the Germans. Paper says that our fellows are 
in the big show further tip the line, and that German subs are attacking 
shipping along the American coast. "vShorty" White, old-time actor, came 
and gave the gang a show last night at Bois de la Rehanne. 

JUNE 7. Papers say 15 U. S. ships sunk by subs. Rumor that Ger- 
mans are massing troops on this front for big attack, and that Division 
base is to move back to Toul on this account. Turn in French gas masks 
— the English ones are better. 

JUNE 8. B Co.'s platoon at Raulecourt has finished work on the 
M. G. emplacements and started to reno\'atc a dugout which was full of 
water and had to be pumped out. 

JUNE 10. "Beaucoup" artillery last night. Boche hit a dump at 
Beaumont and blew it vip. We are moving soon if "dope" is right. 

JUNE 13. 1st and 2d Platoons of C Co. relieved platoons of B Co. 
last night at Bois Hazelle. Kitchen stuff went through by motor to the 
"Quarry", but the men had to march from Bemecourt carrying their guns 
and equipment by hand, because the sound of too many motors up front 
would be sure to draw enemy fire. The kitchen was located in a small 
ravine through which ran a narrow-gauge R. R. track. The place was full 
of rats. 

JUNE 14. Hazelle. Awoke at 4 a. m. by heavy shelling and gas alarm. 
A tree near kitchen was smashed up and limbs fell on our woodpile — 



1()4 History of Thk 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

rather ihouj^hiful of Fritz! Several "mamiitc" cans* standing outside were 
so riddled they had to be sent to hospital. Someone had washed and hung 
out a pair of overalls and the result was "shredded wheat". He was glad 
he was not occu]3ying the overalls at the time. Gas got into the dugout 
so we had to build a fire inside to drive it out. 

JUNE 16. 3rd Platoon, B Co., at Raulecourt relieved and returned 
to "Swamp" last night. Germans took Xivray, but the old YD put 
them right out again. Dr. Voorhees spoke to us this morning at the 
"Swamp". 

JUNE 18. Rumor the YD is to be pulled out and sent to the Somme 
front. "Three day fever" hits the Division. Many men sent to hospital. 
Our officers at Hazelle say that at 2.30 tonight our Engineers launch a 
big gas attack, and that we would be waked up and would put on our 
masks as soon as the gas sirens blew. This was a precaution in case the 
wind shifted and blew the stuff our way. 

JUNE 19. At the appointed time the guard called us. At 2.30 to the 
dot, sirens shrieked out their ominous warning; there was a terrific explo- 
sion and on went the masks. At 2.45 our artillery opened up and fed the 
Boche gas shell as fast as they could fire the guns — which is some rapid. 
At 3 A. M. orders came to remove the masks. At. 3.15 the Boche artillery 
had sul^ciently recovered to come back at us, and they came good and 
strong with "G. I. cans"t and everything they had on tap. We could hear 
our M. G.'s rattling away for dear life. Barney GrafT says: "I went to the 
door and sniffed for gas, but there didn't seem to be any, though there 
were flares and shell aplent\-. I had no more than settled down in my bunk 
and blown out the candle when there came the shriek of a shell which 
seemed to miss the dugout by inches. The explosion followed immediately, 
whereupon every pot and pan in the other section of our dugout, the 
kitchen proper, fell to the floor with a rattle and bang. I lighted my candle 
again to see what had happened, and "Doughnuts" Mohr stuck his head 
out oi his bunk with an awestruck expression and said in a quavering, small 
voice, 'If that didn't HIT the kitchen it was CLOSE!' When daylight 
came we saw that it had struck about 15 feet from our 'place of business'." 
Cpl. Green's gun got a direct hit during the night. Fortunately the crew 
were not in the gun-emplacement at the time, but were in their dugout. 
When they came out to see what the damage was the\- could not find the 
gun anywhere! Bill Scoville's car and McGinn's motor-cycle were hit where 
they were parked for the night. Rumor that our air scouts saw twelve 



*Jjarge cans used for sending rations froni kitchons to troops 
t Army slang for very larj;"^ shell. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 105 

train-loads of Huns being evacuated this morning after the effects of the 
gas show last night, so it is called a success, but not from our personal 
point of view. Fritz sure was sore ! 

JUNE 20. Orders to be on the alert tonight. Fritz expected to retaliate 
some more. 

JUNE 21. Rumors of the day: French are evacuating Paris; Germans 
give the Americans six days to leave this sector (why the forbearance we 
don't know) ; Americans give the Germans until July 1st to leave Allied 
territory (we can understand this) ; we are going to be relieved ; Americans 
have a new gas which will win the war ; French are holding Rheims, and the 
Italians are holding the Austrians. Eddie Mohr was crossing "Shrapnel 
Hollow" to see about some supplies down at the "Quarry" when the Boche 
opened up. A piece of shell hit Eddie in the heel of his shoe. He said it 
seemed as if they were throwing barrack-bags full of dynamite at you. 

JUNE 22. Rumors: 82d Div. is coming in to relieve us; we are going 
into reserve in front of Paris. Couldn't sleep last night on account of rats. 

JUNE 24. 3rd Platoon, Co. C, at Mandres relieved. Bn. Baseball 
team beat 101st Engrs. and won a purse of 3,000 Francs, — score 9-4. 

JUNE 25. Advance party of 327th Inf. turned up in Hazelle Woods^ 
their first trip "in." All but the platoons at Hazelle left at 1.45 for Foug 
in the rear. 

JUNE 26. Took baths at a munitions factory. 

JUNE 27. Fritz bombed Toul in the night. Platoons of C Co. at Ha- 
zelle Woods were relieved by the French, and arrived in Foug at midnight. 
Foug is very popular with the Battalion. It has a canal, public baths and 
several large factories, and seems to be more up-to-date than the usual 
small town. It is only about 3 miles from Toul. 

JUNE 29. Left at 9 a. m. Joined big motor train of the Division 
Reached Void at 11 a. m. 

JUNE 30. Up at 4.30. Left at 7. Saw Russian soldiers at Ligny-en- 
Barrois, Italians at Bar-le-Duc. At noon came into country included in 
First Battle of the Marne. Through Revigny, which is pretty well dam- 
aged, and arrived Vitry-le-Francois at 3 p. m. Vitry quite a large town in 
more ways than one. 

JULY 1. Up at 5 A. M. On road at seven. The country is beautiful, 
though the trip was very dusty. Stopped at Esternay for noon mess. 
Through Coulommiers at 5, and then on to little town of'Coulommes just 



106 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

south of Meaux, after traveling' t\vch-c hours. The people say we are the 
first American troops they have seen. Rumor: We ]jarade in Paris Juh' 4th ! 
Air raid on Meaux at 10 p. m. 

JULY 2. The people are very ^ijood to us. They have given some of 
the boys eggs and vegetables from their gardens. They consider that we 
are standing between them and the Hun. 

JULY 3. Had setting-up and close-order drill, followed by mask and 
pistol inspection. When we leave the Front we must smarten up. 

JULY 4. Not much like our Fourths at home. B and C had a track- 
meet in the a. m. B Co. won. In the afternoon baseball and a short parade. 
The gang got to rough-housing and pulling shirts out of breeches. 

JULY 6. Moved out for the Front last night at 9 p. m. On road till 
4.30. Passed through La Ferte-sous-Jouarre. Had long wait trying to get 
a chance to cross a narrow bridge. Roads are choked with traffic. Passed 
some of the 2d Div. coming out. They made a wonderful stand up in 
Belleau and were a big help in stopping the Gcmian dri\^e on Paris. Com- 
pany kitchens were established in Montrcuil with the companies in Gros- 
jean Woods about 2 kilometers away, and the motors 5 kilos, in rear. The 
French civilians have all left, taking very little with them, by the inside 
appearance of the houses. The boys are sleeping in holes they have dug, 
with pup-tents for cover. They have to keep out of sight. We are about 
15 kilometers froin Chateau-Thierry. 

JULY 7. A Boche plane dropped a note in our lines which read 
"Good-bye 2d — welcome 26th". 

JULY 12. Nothing much last few days. Cars moved up near Battalion 
today. 

JULY 13. Report Major Howard is wounded. Capt. Bulkeley is 
commanding Bn. and Lt. Comcy in command of B Co. Moved out and 
kept on alert all night in road. 

JULY 14. Moved into woods near Bezu-le-Guery. Bn. Hc^rs. and 
company kitchens moved into the town. 

JULY 16. Things ])rctty lively last night. Got alert at 11 p. m. Had 
to roll packs and load them into Fords in pitch blackness. Very heavy 
firing. German attack expected but nobody knows where it will strike. 
This is an "active" front all right. Saw five German planes with Allied 
insignia get one of our balloons. 

JULY 17. They say the enemy attack came up towards Rheims. 
Paper tells of big Allied drive which is on from Chateau-Thierry to St. 




1. Entrance to The Swamp , Toul Sector. 2. Camp at Coulommes, July 4, 1918. 3. In pursuit 
of the Boche Lucy-le Bocage— the Major's car. 4. Camouflaged flivvers.- 5. Sacerie Wood — 
north of Chateau-Thierry. (.. The Sanitary Detachment ready for business before advance on 
Trugny — Major Bulkeley on right. 



108 History of The 101 st Machine Gun Battalion 

Mcnchould. Mcaux and La Fcrte bombed. Dr. Hcsselgravc came back 
with supplies from Paris. Two Boche planes with Allied insignia swooped 
down on La Fcrte and dropped bombs killing two American officers who 
were on their way back to the States. That is the kind of foe we have to 
deal with. They cannot excuse such things as that as the "act of soldier\' 
out of control of their officers". 

JULY 18. Last night we came up into the scrimmage. There was a 
heavy thunderstorm and you couldn't sec a hand before your face. The 
roads were choked with troops, artillery, and trains; but they were only 
visible when a lightning or gun flash came. We had to feel our way and 
it was slow work. Finally the cars could go no further, and we got out, 
unloaded the guns and went ahead on foot. Lt. Amory walked squarely 
into the battery end of a mule which was too fed up with the war to register 
the objection that might have been expected. After much floundering 
through mud our advance party found us and led us up to our positions in 
the woods in front of Torcy. Dug in. This morning at 4.30 the barrage 
started — some noise! German shell began to drop near us. Our P. C. was 
called "P. C. Red Devil" and there we met Capt. Westbrook with his 
104th M. G. Co. Our doughboys have taken Torcy and reached the day's 
objective. Large details from each company were sent down into Torcy 
carrying ammunition and supplies. Some of B Company's drivers also took 
ammunition in their cars to the front line over roads that were being inter- 
mittently shelled. Olschefskie's car was ditched on the way back. He got 
out and walked back until he met a detail coming to help him. They suc- 
ceeded in pulling the car out with the aid of another, and Olschefskie drove 
safely back. Staph of B Co. was wounded near Torcy. 

JULY 19. Ordered to move back into reserve in the afternoon. On 
the way we could see the shell dropping along crests of the hills off to the 
left, and it was an impressive sight. We waited in some woods and soon 
the cars came and took us back to our old place in Bezu Woods. Got in 
at 11 p. M. 

JULY 20. Papers report Allies have taken 17,000 prisoners so far. 
102d Inf. "went over" again this a. m. and, from accounts, are still going. 
It means we will go again very soon. 

J ULY 21 . Routed out at 4.30 a. m. and ordered to i)ack u]j. Pulled out 
in the Fords at 11 A. m. for the scrap. Passed through Bouresches and 
Lucy-le-Bocage. The country is a mess. There are dead Boche, and horses 
still hooked to the wagons they were drawing, thrown to one side of the 
road. In the towns were a nuinl)er of dead in the streets, and machine- 



History or The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 109 

guns abandoned everywhere. At one place a German gun-crew were lying 
beside their gun. Passed the body of a young U. S. Marine officer lying 
with his face toward the Boche. All kinds of troops going forward, and 
now and then a doughboy with a gang of German prisoners going to the 
rear. We kept moving and passed Major Emerson G, Taylor of Hartford, 
with part of the 102d Inf. A little further on was Col. "Machine Gun" 
Parker sitting alone on his horse in the middle of a field. He had his char- 
acteristic grin, and waved a greeting to each car as it passed, and shouted 
"Go get 'em! Give 'em hell, boys". A bit further on we came to a halt, 
unloaded cars, and went ahead on foot. We didn't know where the Boche 
were, but were told he Avas somewhere near, and that we should get in 
touch and keep in touch. Thus we found ourselves leading the entire ad- 
vance of the 26th Division, not knowing where we should bump into the 
enemy or when our infantry behind us would catch up. We advanced 
through the wheat fields in combat column in the direction of Tn.igny, 
B Co. taking the left and C Co. splitting off to the right on the other side 
of a patch of woods. There was a line of woods ahead of B Co., which 
looked suspicious, so the company was halted while an officer and two men 
went forward to reconnoitre them and find out if it was possible to go by 
without leaving Boche M. G.'s in our rear. They found a deserted M. G. 
nest with evidences of a fresh, half -eaten meal. There had been a gun in 
a little platform in one of the trees. Just after this party had signaled us 
on, shell began to drop in the open field ahead, so we executed a movement 
to the right flank into some woods and proceeded. C Co. got into some 
pretty lively shelling over on the right. After pushing through the woods 
without opposition, we came out on the further edge and there looked 
down on the town of Trugny. Just above it on the hill we saw one or two 
Boche machine-gun nests and could make out the gunners' heads sticking 
over the edge of the pits. Here we knew the Boche would make his stand. 
A few M. G. bullets whistled overhead. C Co. took up position overlooking 
the valley on the right; and B Co. was sent down almost to the town under 
cover of a thin line of bushes running through a small swale. We had to 
cross an open field in plain view of the enemy, so resorted to Indian meth- 
ods, and the men crawled through the grass one by one, dragging the guns 
and ammunition after them. This move was successful, as no fire was 
drawn. 

When we had reached our position the guns were put in battery and 
trained on the enemy nests opposite; and there we waited for our infan- 
try, ready to support their attack with our fire which must surely have 
proved effective. A Boche plane came directly overhead fiying low, and 
every man lay motionless under our scanty concealment. Looking over to 



110 HisTOKY or I'm: IOIst Machine Gun Battalion 

our left, we suddenly saw a knot of men behind a elinn]) of trees, thinking 
at first they were Boche, but a closer scrutiny showed the horizon blue of 
the French. It was a scouting patrol of the division on our right which 
had strayed out of their territory. They were making their way to the 
rear, one at a time. One of them came our way and seemed surprised to 
find us. He stopped and said that the woods in front were chock full of 
Boche iXI. G.'s, and that the French had lost many men on our right. Oc- 
casional M. G. bursts passed overhead, Ijut nothing directly at us. In the 
mean time our infantry had come up, but the commander had decided to 
postpone the attack owing to the approach of dusk and lack of artillery 
support. We were pulled back about half a mile into a road running 
through the woods. Here we tried to snatch a wink of sleep without much 
success, as it was cold and there was considerable enemy shelling. Early 
in the a. m. some shell fell into our road, killing and wounding a number 
of- the 102d Inf. We thought they were from our own guns in rear. The 
morale was not helped by this incident. 

JULY 22. At daybreak both companies were sent out into some 
woods overlooking Trugny to assist the attack of Major Rau's battalion 
against the town. We could not locate any enemy to fire at, and the best 
we could do was to wait to protect Rau's left against possible counter- 
attack. We were shelled and M. G. bullets flew pretty thick. Bristol of 
C Co. was wounded. After a while the attack crumbled in spite of Rau's 
gallant efforts against impossible odds, and the troops were withdrawn to 
the old positions. A little later C Co. was sent over to the right to join 
Rau. There they found him with only a few of his men left. The guns 
were set up on the edge of the wood in a defensive position. B Co. got 
orders to support an attack of the 102d Inf. on the town of Epieds over 
on the left flank. The company formed a fourth wave behind the infantry, 
and spread out into a long skirmish line. The advance started over the 
open wheat field at a slow walk, with frequent halts during which each 
man flattened out so tliat no moving thing was visible in the field. M. G. 
bullets began to kick u]) little puffs of dust all around us, and the enemy 
artillery barrage came down fiercely just ahead. We knew we would have 
to go through this, and every nerve was tense. We soon found ourselves 
in the midst of it — direct fire at that, mostly from one pounders, and 
105's and Austrian 88's which come with the shriek of a thousand devils. 
The fumes choked us and the concussions half stunned us. It was here 
that Hez Porter, following his platoon leader, was instantly killed. Cor- 
coran, Dick and Wendt were wounded. An infantry captain just ahead 
called frantically to us to i)ut an enemy M. G. out of business. He pointed 



History of The 101st AIachine Gun Battalion 111 

out a pile of barrels where the gun was supposed to be hidden, and two 
guns of Lt. Sandberg's platoon, Sgt. Hart's section, went into action in the 
edge of some woods and peppered the spot for some time. It was here that 
the whole attack was checked, and we got word from the infantry that it 
was puUing back and that we should do the same on our own hook. The 
company was drawn to the left into cover of woods, reformed, and sent 
back, skirting around a rise for concealment. We assembled in a patch of 
wood a little way back and waited for possible counter-attack and to cover 
the withdrawal of the doughboys if necessary. They came filtering back, 
bringing their wounded with them, and soon we were also returned to our 
old place where the guns were set up to repel any attack that might come 
from the left. 

Dr. Hesselgrave appeared with cigarettes and chocolate which was 
indeed welcome, as we had nothing to eat. This was not a healthy place 
for the Doctor to be in, but we knew he would come to us when we needed 
him most. There was a dressing-station near us, and it was awful to see 
the wounded and shell-shocked fellows brought in. About 6 p. m. the 
Boche put down a fearful artillery barrage close in front of us, and we 
were pulled back a hundred yards to escape the effects of this fire. A detail 
had been digging a grave for Porter, but were unable to finish. A bit later, 
orders came from Division that we would go back into reserve for a time. 
We thought our troubles were about over for that day, but were mistaken. 
Down on the road near Champluisant Farm, just east of Sacerie, our ma- 
chines were lined up, waiting to take us out, and as we were loading up 
there came the familiar shriek and two shell burst in the field close by. 
A moment later there came a deafening blast — all was confusion. Two 
more shell had exploded together right among our cars. Two of them were 
overturned. We got the wounded into cars as quickly as possible but, to 
make matters worse, a mule-cart had become wedged in the road ahead 
and blocked all traffic, so we could not move out. Finally the way was 
cleared and the cars with the wounded made for the first-aid station at 
Sacerie Farm. Harold Smith and Ralph Henry of B Co. died. Brackett, 
Weld, Olschefskie, Hampson, Haskins, Barber, Maun, Rogers, Burden, 
Fothergill, Mercer, Burnham, Sancyzk of B Co. and Fabryk of C Co. 
wounded. Robinson and Gunning of B Co. shell-shocked. Our cars had 
been doing fine service most all day in taking out wounded. Two of C 
Co's cars were hit and one wrecked. At last we found ourselves in bivoviac 
in the woods. 

JULY 23. Rain all day and cold. Understand we go in again. Dr. 
Hesselgrave brings cigarettes and chocolate. Our artillery has come up 



112 HiSTOKv oj' TiiK 101 ST AIachink Gu\ Battaliox 

and is all around us. This is hcarteninj:^. They have had a hard lime trying 
to keep U]) with the procession . We buried Henry and Smith. 

JULY 24. Orders came that we are to act as "independent cavalrx'", 
and will be given the right-of-way over everything. The Germans are again 
on the lani and must be caught. We pulled out hurriedly about noon. 
Passed through Trugn\- which we had fought around two days before. 
Saw a big 210 mm. German howitzer abandoned beside the road. Finally 
we got out ahead of everything, once more leading the 26th Division, and 
reached town of Courpoil where a halt was made. A French anti-aircraft 
battery came up and started to fire from a garden close at hand. A little 
later we turned off to tlie right and made our way into the edge of La 
Fere Woods. Here we found a wounded French soldier wdio had been a 
prisoner and was abandoned by the Germans because he could not walk. 
Doc Powell attended to him and got him evacuated. We w^aited for fur- 
ther orders. Night came, and an American 155 battery |)ulled into the 
wood back of us and commenced to fire. 

JULY 25. Toward morning a Boche plane appeared, flying just above 
the tree-tops, and sprinkled M. G. bullets among us. He killed a doughboy 
who was sleeping under a truck not far oft", but did no further damage. 
About 4.30 A. M. the Boche began shelling our woods down below, and the 
fire kept getting nearer and nearer. Finally there was a terrific crash and a 
shell exploded in the tree-tops directly over the gully where C Co.'s men 
were lying. It killed Bill Bmton, Paul Butler and "Duke" Wellington and 
wounded Alexander, Bill Buck, Faulk, LcBlond, Connors, Hussey, Con- 
nelly, Cal Ward, Pascale, Lloyd Beach, Childers, Shemi Green, Waldo, 
Ralph Jones. Bruton, Butler, and Wellington we buried near by later that 
day. The Battalion shifted position to a w^ood a quarter mile ofif, where 
another plane came and shot at us. The men had to take what cover they 
could behind trees. The 42d Div. is coming in here with us. Major Rau has 
been killed, and the 102d loses another fine man and splendid officer in his 
death. We ha\'e Ijcen in service just a year today, and what changes the 
year has seen! A detail went back and buried Porter. 

JULY 26. We were taken out last night at midnight and sent back 
to Sacerie Woods. The Division has been relieved with exception of the 
artillery. Rodda, Christensen, and Parmelee left for officer's school. Rain 
and cold. Riddell, J. J. Nolan, C Co., have been gassed, Ratenbvirg, San. 
Det., wounded and gassed, Ingersoll gassed. 

JULY 28. Sunday. Report came of death of Alexander and Faulk. 
Dr. Hesselgrave held a memorial ser\'ice for our dead, and Ca])t. Bulkelcy 




1. Gra\i^,.l r.iui..ii, I'.iiil.M ;iii(l W .lluitiioii I 'n r U , „ „ 1-. lu.i 1 1. ni CI.:! 1 ..i u-'l lii-i i \ -' Air-plane 
bomb hole. Clmtcau-riiicrry — l.iciiti'iuiiit.s Sundberg ami Aiiior.N . o. (_'i>in|jaii> lis lolhiis kitchen. 
4. Graves of Ralph Henry and Harold Smith at Sacerie Farm — Chateau-Thierry. o. "Doctor of 
Wines and Liquors" — "Y" at Courtaron. 6. C Company mess at Etrochey. 7. A swim in the Seine 
at Etrochey. 



114 History of The 101 st Machine Gun Battalion 

spoke. The Interpreter caine in with a report from a "rehable sourec" 
that we are going to Italy. In the evening the hum of a Boche plane was 
heard, and they had to throw water on a small fire in the kitehen. The 
plane came so close that we could see it distinctly, but it went on to our 
rear. At Chateau-Thierry we had eight killed, eight severely wounded, 
twenty-six slightly wounded, seven gassed, and two shell-shocked. 

JULY 29. Had drill in the p. m. Our balloons have moved up further, 
showing that Fritz is still going fast. Terrific bombardment last night, 
lasting till a. m. Papers report fall of Fere-en-Tardenois. 

JULY 30. Moved back to town of Courtaron on banks of the Mame 
11 A. M. Passed through Chateau-Thierry. The bridges across the Mame 
have been blown up, and engineers are working to get them passable for 
troops. The people are coming back to their wrecked homes. 

JULY 31. Terribly hot. We go swimming in the Mame and it is a 
great treat, helping to bring us back into shape. The papers from Paris 
say the Yanks have licked the Kaiser's "best". 

AUG. 1. Drilling now every day. In B Co. Bruemmer, Bourn, Den- 
nis, and R. Skinner made sergeants, Pinney Wadlund and Riepsame cor- 
porals. L. J. Parker is "Top". 

AUG. 5. Papers say French take Soissons, and Americans capture 
Fismes. Some of the officers went to Paris on 48-hour passes. Rumor the 
men will go also. Lt. Bennett left for U. S. as instructor. 

AUG. 7. Hought Bulkelcy comes to visit from school where he is in- 
structor. It looks as if we would move before many more men get passes 
to Paris, but a bunch of non-coms have got in on it already. 

AUG. 9. Fourteen of our Fords were taken up to the Front and de- 
livered to the 4th Div. by a detail under Lt. Wainwright. They were 
blocked in one place by a huge tree that had fallen across the road, and had 
to pull it one side with the help of a lot of doughboys and "Frogs". They 
passed through Fere-en-Tardcnois, and turned over the cars at Mareuil- 
en-Dole where they got into artillery shelling again. They were invited 
to stay for mess, but declined with thanks. There were many signs of the 
recent fighting through this country. 

AUG. 11. Ca])t. Bulkelcy promoted to major. We have a captured 
German Maxim M. G. and are getting instruction in its use. This knowl- 
edge may come in handy some day. We fire it in a ])it. 

AUG. 13. Battalion moved at noon, passing through La Ferte, Mont- 
mirail, Sezanne, Anglure, and reached Granges at 7.15 after traveling 60 
kilometers. Men slept in ])up-tents. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 115 

AUG. 14. Mess at 5.30. Pulled out at 7. Through Arcis-sur-Aube, 
Brienne-le-Chateau, where we saw a lot of Polish-American troops in 
French unifonns. Stopped for noon mess outside Bar-sur-Aube. In the 
afternoon we traveled the longest, smoothest and straightest road we have 
seen in France. There was not a curve for miles. It was horribly dusty, 
and the men had such a layer on their faces that they looked like circus 
clowns. This country is called the Cote d'Or and is very beautiful. We 
passed through the city of Chatillon-sur-Seine and reached the piginy town 
of Etrochey at 5 p. m. The men put up their pup-tents in the pasture down 
by the River Seine. 

AUG. 15. The Battalion was moved into billets which are comfort- 
able for the most i^art, and the cars moved from the lot where they had 
been parked, down to the river bank under some shade trees. There are 
rumors of furloughs. On the strength of this Graff got a pass to Chatillon 
and cabled home for $50. 

AUG. 16. Lt. Mills and Sgt. Beriin off to school at Chatillon. Hear 
76th National Army Div. from New England is being used as a replace- 
ment division. Poor luck for them. 

AUG. 22. Bill O'Niel came back yesterday with all sorts of news from 
home. At seven p. m. the Battalion was assembled in the drill-field and 
Billy told us of his experiences at home. We were mighty glad to see him 
and gave him a big welcome. 

AUG. 23. Jack Wier gets transfer to engineers. Johnny Riddell comes 
back from hospital. 

AUG. 24. Battalion baseball team played aviators at aerodrome near 
Chatillon. Score 6-6. Looked over planes. 

AUG. 25. Turned in all Fords but three. Lt. L. L. Cupples joins C 
Co. There is a family of Belgian refugees here who had to flee to England, 
later coming to France. The wife can talk a little English which she 
learned while there, but the husband and grandparents can only speak 
Flemish. There are two little girls in the school here. Their native town 
was burned to the ground during the German invasion of Belgium. Lt. 
Mort vScoville visited us from school where he is instructor. Battalion 
trimmed a negro labor Bn. baseball team. The game was better than a 
vaudeville show. The coon catcher got a high foul right over his head 
and without bothering to take off his mask stood with outstretched paws, 
and while waiting for the ball to drop, he bawled at the top of his lungs, 
"Oh, Lawd, hab mercy on mah soul"! He caught the ball! Our boys got 
laughing so all through that they played a rotten game. 



116 History of Tiik 101 st Machine Gun Battalion 

AUG. 30. Wc have l^ccn havin*^ close-order drills, field maneuvers, 
firing practice in a pit, and training aplenty these days. We have pulled 
off several good Battalion parades at retreat. B Co. had an interesting 
demonstration of "filtering" or the use of pussy-foot methods in approach- 
ing an enemy. Part of the company was posted on a small rise, and part 
was sent out to crawl up on them. It was surprising how close the attack- 
ers got before being seen, although we knew the direction they were coming 
from. Most of the gang has been enjoying the swimming in the Seine every 
day. The water is cold and invigorating, but the air is warm. Tonight we 
had a fine show by a "Y" company in a big room in the chateau. This cha- 
teau has a fine garden in back, where the officers have mess. The Battalion 
songsters have been holding forth a good deal. Even the officers have been 
trying to sing. The dulcet tones of Chandler, Ben Bourn and others can 
be heard dispensing sweet melody every night. 

AUG. 31. We moved out at 7 a. m. in 101st Ammunition Train trucks. 
Passed through Chatillon, Bar-sur-Aube, Monticr-en-Der, and reached St. 
Dizier at 5 p. m., where we camped in an o])en lot. Most of the outfit 
went in to look over the town and get some hotel eats. Good town. 

SEPT. 1. Pulled out at 8 a. m. Halted on a side-road near Bar-le-Duc 
at 11.30. There is a lot of troop movement, and it looks as if something 
big is up. A negro regiment passed us. They have negro officers and wear 
French unifonns of O. D. and ha\'e French equipment. 

SEPT. 2. Started again last night at 8 p. m. for the Front via Bar-le- 
Duc. Rode all night, and it was terribly cold. Pulled into Bois de Neuville 
at dawn and made ourselves as comfortable as possible. Orders to keep 
camouflaged. Lots of troops and big guns moving toward Front. Some- 
thing is going to hap]3en, but we don't know what or where. Boys help 
put u]j "Y" tent for Doc Hesselgrave. 

SEPT. 5. Whit Tiernan left for school. Drill this a. ji. Unexpected 
order at 6.45 to move. We hit road at 7.30. Travel slowly on account of 
congestion on roads. After midnight pulled into side road and got a little 
sleep. 102d M. G. Bn. passed by. All trooj:! mo\-ements at night — camou- 
flaged in woods by day. Pulled out again at 7.30. Rain. Roads very slip- 
pery and some of our trucks went into the ditch, and had to be pulled out 
by one of the others, the men i)ushing at the wheels. 

SEPT. 7. Arri\-e(l in Ravin d' Amblonville at 5.30. Found French 
wooden barracks here, lighted by an electric ])lant which was run by some 
French engineers. There was a bird-cage, containing some mice, outside 
one of the Frenchmen's shacks. Thev could lell if there was the faintest 



History of The 101st Machine Gux Battalion 117 

trace of gas about by the way the mice acted. This is quite a flossy place, 
and the French have decorated some of the shacks to look like Swiss 
chalets, and laid duck-boards along paths in the woods from one to another. 
The effect is quite rustic. The men were allowed to sleep today after the 
strenuous trip. Graff got the $50 he was going to use on leave! 

SEPT. 9. Received five G. M. C. trucks and some Fords. Eighteen 
replacements arrived. One from Hartford, Louis Hart, went to B Co. The 
French are setting up a 210 battery near us. One "Frog" truck driver 
who was towing the big guns into place furnished much amusement. He 
went over ditches, small trees or anything that happened to get in his way, 
wearing a broad grin all the while. He knew he had the star part for the 
time being. A big bunch of French Colonials have come in across the road. 
They jabber away like monkies and are very funny. They wear red fezes, 
and have shaved heads — all except a small topknot. Each one has three 
or ionr parallel scars on his face, which are tribal marks. They carry big, 
wicked-looking knives, and one would not care to run up against them in 
the dark. They say they make wonderful raiding-troops. The guns through 
this sector are thick as flies — all calibers, both French and American. They 
must be figuring on blowing Germany off the map. 

SEPT. 11. Received ballots and cast our votes for the Conn. State 
election. Warned that our bombardment would start at 1 o'clock tonight 
and to be ready to beat it to the dugouts if we got an answer froin Fritz. 

SEPT. 12. Hell broke loose last night. We could sec gun flashes all 
around, and the ground trembled with the blasts. Artillery in the distance 
sounded a continuous rumble. The barrage kept up all night, and sleep 
was out of the question. It was the most intense we have yet heard. In 
the morning went down where the French 210's were working, and the 
obliging "Frog" gunners let us fire the "big boys". By getting right behind 
the guns we could catch a momentary glimpse of the big shell as they 
soared into the sky. At noon we heard the Boche were beating it with 
the 26th after them. Our march orders came and we pulled out at 3.30. 
Part of B Co. had gone ahead on foot, there not being enough transporta- 
tion for all. We went down through the battered town of Mouilly (5.40) 
beyond which the motors got stuck in the traffic. The men got out and 
started forward, carrying full pack and equipment. The kitchens remained 
behind at Mouilly. We marched up through what had been No Man's 
Land a few hours before, and the roads were in a fearful state. No wheel 
vehicles could pass, but the 101st Engrs. were already feverishly at work. 
Gangs of German and Austrian prisoners filed by, ever}^ now and then, 
vmder guard of one or two M. P.'s. Many of them were wounded. We 



118 History of The IOIst Machine Gun Battalion 

finally reached a cross-road, after floundenn^^ over shell-holes, where we 
halted for an hour waiting orders. At 10 p. m. a mounted messenger came 
up with verbal orders from Gen. Edwards that we should push on at once 
to Vigneulles after the 102d Inf. which had started a little ahead. We 
shouldered our guns and trudged forward. It was necessary to make fre- 
quent stops for rest on account of the great weight of our equipment. We 
passed down the road known as the Grande Tranchee de Calonne, through 
thick woods on either side. The Battalion marched in column of squads 
wath C Co. in the lead. As we progressed further and further into enemy 
territory we could hear men crashing through the underbnish, though we 
could not see them owing to the pitch darkness. We knew they were Ger- 
mans. AVhat if they should make a stand and sweep the road with M. G.'s? 
After an hour or two how our tired muscles ached! All hands flopped the 
minute a halt order came, and snatched a few moments of blissful rest. 
Now and then a man would fall in the road, unable to go another step. 
After some hours of this agony we caine out into the open, and found our- 
selves on a high plateau overlooking the valley of the Woevre. Such a 
sight met our astonished eyes as made us forget for the moment our utter 
exhaustion. As far as the eye could see, splotches of dull red flame reflected 
their angry glare up into immense palls of smoke that overhung the sky. 
Burning hamlets — the work of the Hun, in his wanton thirst for revenge 
and destruction. There could be no reasonable military necessity for firing 
these poor little homes of French peasants. Immediately in front of us 
was the burning village of Hattonchatel were we could see human figures 
flitting in and out between the burning buildings. We knew not whether 
they were our own doughboys or Gennans. 

During a halt made here. Major Bulkeley and Lt. Mills went forward 
to locate our way. They became separated, and as the Adjutant walked 
around a bush he was suddenly confronted by a Boche. Mills was armed 
only with his trench-cane which he promptly brandished o\'er the Boche's 
head, and roared out the only German word he could think of. "Achtung" ! 
The Boche "com]jrecd" this order for his hands flew over his head and he 
emitted a frightened "Kamerad"! It is hard to tell which of the two was 
the more surprised. The prisoner proved to be an Austrian non-com who 
said that he had been aslecjj in his quarters. When he awoke he could 
hear voices talking a strange tongue. The Americans had come! He had 
crept out to look for his friends, and after wandering about in the dark 
was glad to surrender. He was docile enough, and Mills appointed him 
his personal orderly, pro tern, until he could be turned over to the M. P.'s. 
He carried the Lieutenant's equipment and the two boxes of ammunition 
of one of our men, and seemed quite proud to Ije exalted to the rank of 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 119 

orderly in the great American Army. Soon the way was found, and we 
"picked up" once more and stumbled on past Hattonchatel, around a big 
horseshoe bend, and found a patch of woods halfway down the slope of the 
plateau where we went to escape observation as it was now beginning to 
dawn. We could see the town of Vigneulles not far below in the plain. It, 
too, was burning. No sooner had we slipped our packs than most of us 
were fast asleep — those who were not too exhavisted to sleep. 

SEPT. 13. After an hour we were routed out once more, and started 
off for Vigneulles. On the way we passed a little German runabout with 
the double eagle painted on its doors, in which they said a German colonel 
had driven right among our doughboys, while under the impression that 
he was on his way to his own lines. We saw a fully equipped Geniian med- 
ical car containing all sorts of medicines and surgical instruments. This 
was a godsend to our doctors. As we entered town at 4.30 there was evi- 
dence of German occupation on all sides — equipment strewn all about the 
streets and great quantities in the houses. The few French civilians who 
had reinained during the German occupation were beside themselves at 
seeing the Americans. Some of them seemed unable to comprehend what 
had taken place. They had hung out their proud little flags of France, 
which had been kept carefully concealed from enemy eyes all these years 
— waiting for just this glorious day. These little emblems were to us sym- 
bolic of the unconquerable spirit of France. They said they had been 
treated decently enough by the Boche. A house containing small-arms 
ammunition had been fired and was popping away merrily as the car- 
tridges exploded in the heat. We went on through the town to its further 
edge on the extreme right, where we bivouacked at once behind the stone 
wall of a cemetery. Here the few men who had fallen out on the march 
joined us, with the exception of one who was so exhausted he had to be 
sent to hospital. A pretty fair record we think. On the way, we had picked 
up four prisoners who we turned over the the M. P.'s prisoner pen. Behind 
us we now beheld our friend Mont Sec of the old Toul days. One of our 
long deferred hopes had been accomplished — this familiar landmark was at 
last in American hands, and would no longer frown down upon us and give 
away every move we made. About eight o'clock we were surprised to hear 
many hoof -beats approaching, and some of us routed out to see what was 
going on. A queer sight — a large detachment of our own 2d (Regular) 
Cavalr>' in "tin derbies". This outfit stopped for information, and aroused 
much interest among those of us who had soldiered with old Troop B on 
the Mexican Border in 1916. They went on up toward the Boche to recon- 
noitre. About ten o'clock one of our officers who had been trying to sleep 



120 History of Thk 101 st Machine Gun Battalion 

on soinc i)icces of marl)lc' in the liule monnmcnl-cutter's hnt, slc])])cd ont 
to look about. He beheld a si«i;ht which at once engaged his earnest atten- 
tion. There, in the plain to the right rear, was a whole brigade drawn u]) 
in combat formation. He could not understand this entirely, and thought 
the situation might develope uni)leasant consequences if there should ha])- 
pch to be a misunderstanding. Accordingly he set out across the field in 
their direction. He could sec ground-scouts out in front looking at him with 
suspicion and fingering their rifles in an unpleasant way. There was nothing 
now but to keep on going, for he was unwilling to hazard a bullet in the 
seat of the pants, which would surely have been the result if he had turned 
and tried to make a dignified withdrawal. This officer was too familiar 
with the shooting ability of American scouts to take any chances. When 
he came within speaking distance he hailed a sergeant and two men, noting 
two service stripes on their sleeves. The Lieutenant asked what outfit it 
was and the sergeant replied, "Foist Division, sir". When he looked at 
those clear-eyed, square-jawed, young Americans he was more than ever 
glad that he had not invited unfavorable attention from them. "Gee, 
Lieutenant, we didn't know whether you was Boche or American when 
you come across that field — but what's all the firin' and where's the battle 
goin' on"? The Lieutenant smiled and said, "Oh, that's not a fight — it's 
just an ammunition dump the Boche set oft" when the 26th drove 'em out 
at two o'clock this morning. Our Division has been sitting on the lid of 
this town and there isn't a Boche in sight." "Gee, Lieutenant, we was all 
ready to take this burg", said the doughboy. 

That is how the 2(ith and 1st Divisions met and aminitated the St. 
Mihiel salient at one swift blow — the thing which had been a thorn in the 
side of the French for four long years. It seems that our Chief of Stalf had 
run into a small patrol of the 1st Div. in Vigneulles in the small hours, 
and asked the jjatrol leader what outfit he was from. The Yank replied, 
"Twenty-sixth, sir". "Yes, I know", said the Chief, "but what regiment"? 
"Twenty-sixth, sir", insisted the doughboy. It finally dawned on the 
Colonel that the man meant the 26th Regiment of the 1st Division. The 
officer then asked him where his regiment was, and he could not tell, but 
said they were ordered to scout ahead as far as possible and wait till their 
outfit came u]). The Colonel then wrote a message to the effect that the 
2()th Div. had taken Vigneulles at 2 a. m., and told the sergeant to send it 
back to his commanding officer by a runner. This message apparently 
ne\'cr got to its destination, which may account, in i)art, for the somewhat 
belligerent attitude of the brigade which had come up in our rear. A little 
later wc were disturbed by the arrival of some shell which burst uncom- 
fortably near. Wc could plainly- hear the report of the gun, which was not 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 121 

far away. Some of its shell landed further into the town, killing two French 
poilus. Their bodies were carried past us by their comrades and reverently 
laid to rest in the little cemetery — "Mori pour la Patrie". Doc Powell 
patched up another poilu who was badly wounded in the road near us. In 
the afternoon a few of the cavalry came back with some Boche prisoners, 
and yelled out to us as they passed, "We found a brewery up the line and 
there's 'boocoo biere'. Better beat it up there quick if you want some." 
Curse the stem discipline of war that will not let us take advantage of such 
an opportunity! 

At 4.30 p. M. someone bawled "Here comes the chow"! Instantly 
there was a mad scramble for mess-kits, and, sure enough, there coming 
up the road were two of our Fords with mess for both companies. The line 
never formed so quickly, even in the Chateau-Thierry days, and army dis- 
cipline was the only thing that prevented a riot and a mobbing of the 
"chuck wagons", for we had eaten nothing since leaving d'Amblonville, 
except some hardtack we carried in our packs. Probably a German attack 
would not have disturbed that mess line. Major Bulkeley had talked with 
a German surgeon in the prisoner pen, who informed him that they had 
expected to have plenty of time to get out of the Salient before the Ameri- 
cans could cut it. They had left the town of St. Mihiel, and were dumb- 
founded to be stopped at Vigneulles and taken prisoner. They had thought 
it out of the question for our troops to get there for many hours — but see- 
ing is believing. Thus ended what was in some ways the most remarkable 
feat of arms ever accomplished by any army. The Americans had thrown 
precedent to the winds, and broken the pet theories of military experts by 
marching in column through enemy country in the dead of night. The 
101st M. G. Bn. came through, each man carrying a load of approximately 
50 lbs. in addition to full field-pack, with the loss by exhaustion of only 
one man. Only an organization in the pink of physical condition could 
have stood such an ordeal. To the 102d Infantry, the 101st M. G. Bn., 
and the 102d M. G. Bn., the latter being able to use its mule-drawn carts, 
belongs the honor of delivering the final thrust of the St. Mihiel Offensive 
— the most important part of the whole operation, both in its execution 
and its results. 

SEPT. 14. Last night a company of American tanks came up and 
camped in the field near us. We found Joe Ryan, formerly of B Co., and 
now a sergeant with this outfit. This morning the town was shelled again 
while we were having breakfast. A little later some planes came over, very 
high up, and dropped a flock of bombs. There were some bad casualties 
in the 102d Inf. bivouacked in a field behind the town. Orders came for 



122 History of The 101 st Machine Gun Battalion 

us to ]mll out and j^o l)ack into reserve positions. Part of the Battalion 
went on foot and the rest in the cars, up the hill past Hattonchatel and 
into the Grande Tranchee which we had traversed the night of the 12th. 
It looked far different now, and we followed down the beautiful archway 
of trees with different feelings than on that former occasion. We passed 
through the town of Scuzey where not a house remained standing, it having 
been in No Man's Land, and went into camp at 3 p. m. in a little swale 
just beyond. We had brought along two of the captured German trucks 
which some of the drivers had repaired. They have steel tires, and the 
double eagle is painted on the side. Dr. Hesselgrave and Miss Gary ar- 
rived, and we turned two trucks over to them for quarters. We were right 
in the old front lines. Some of the boys found a German skeleton which 
must have lain in No Man's Land for perhaps a year or two. We buried 
it. Sgts. Erie Rogers and Zeke Ackley left for officers' school on the morn- 
ing of the 12th. 

SEPT. 15. A French aviator came down near us when something went 
wrong with his machine. He had to send to his aerodrome for help, and we 
put him up over night. From C Co. Berry is transferred to 102d M. G. Bn. 
and Martin to 103d Inf. We moved down the road a short distance to 
another gully where there is better concealment for the cars. 

SEPT. 16. Boche planes flying low over main road last night dropping 
bombs and spraying with M. G's. "Father" Williams had to leave a 
truck he was bringing u]3 full of gasolene tanks and dive into a trench. 
Gould came back. The boys are building shacks for greater comfort. 
There are a number of small dugouts barely under ground, and they are 
not too comfortable. Whenever we get into a new place now, we find it 
pays to plan as if we were going to remain indefinitely. It pays to make 
the most of any small comforts that can be had. Bill Skinner leaves to 
get commission. B. W. Brown transferred to Div. Hqrs. Troop. 

SEPT. 18. Battalion taken over to LaCroix and given bath to get rid 
of cooties. Ben Perkins back yesterday after taking some exams. Gordon 
Robinson transferred to Central Records Office. 

SEPT. 22. Chaplain Taggart assigned to Battalion. He is a cousin 
of Lt. Taggart of B Co. It has been decided to keep the 14,000 francs sent 
us from home for the 4th of July to be distributed when we get leaves. 
Dr. Hesselgrave put up a big "Y" tent with assistance from Bill Gray and 
others. It is well camouflaged from overhead observation. The boys have 
been wandering through the old trenches and dugouts, and are bringing 
back German stoves and all sorts of thinj^rs for their shacks. The Boche 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battailon 123 

certainly have made themselves comfortable around here. Some of the 
dugouts were faced with concrete, and one had glass bottles set into the 
corners, and in the bottles were the cards of the German officers occupying 
it. There are beds and chairs they have brought from French houses. In 
one section we found bodies of Austrians who had been killed by our bom- 
bardment. They were mostly lying in the bottom of the trenches in gro- 
tesque attitudes and the stench was awful. One officer had a fine pair of 
field-glasses which one of the boys took. They must have had a terrible 
time when our barrage hit them. Another dugotit had been used as a 
dressing-station and was full of bloody rags. There is a great amount of 
military stuff lying around, and souvenirs so thick we do not bother to 
pick them u]) unless we can use them. Some sections are one mass of barbed 
wire entanglements. We have to be very wary when going into dugouts 
on account of bomb-traps, though none have been found so far. 

SEPT. 24. Lt. Mills has been promoted to captain. Agnew to 1st 
Lt., Jack Heron to sgt. and Campbell to corporal. Dunn transferred 
to engineers. Cal Ward returns from hospital. 

SEPT. 26. Big barrage on last night. Bibeau transferred to Div. 
Hqrs. 

SEPT. 28. Bracken made personnel N. C. O. with rank of sgt. Papers 
tell of big American drive north of Verdun in the Argonne Forest. 

SEPT. 30. Bulgarians have asked for armistice. Allies attack on five 
fronts. Marshal Foch is doing big things. Had news of Martin's death 
up near Riaville. 

OCT. 2. Bill Thornton off to officer's school. Baridon made sergeant 
and leaves to get commission. Dr. Hesselgrave predicts war will be over 
by Christmas. 

OCT. 5. Boche plane dropped bombs very near us last night and 
fragments dropped outside dugouts. Whit Tiernan has come back to wait 
for his commission. 

OCT. 7. Papers report that Central Powers propose peace. Hear a 
battalion of the 77th Div. has advanced too far and been cut off in the 
Argonne. 

OCT. 8. Packed up and hauled out at 6 p. m. Arrived in heavy rain, 
9 p. M., at Bevaux Barracks, a cluster of large stone buildings near Verdun, 
which used to be a cavalry post. The entire Battalion quartered in one 
of these and other units of the Division in some of the others. 

OCT. 9. Left Niantic a year ago today. From theupper story of the 



124 History of Tiif. 101 st Machine Gun Battalion 

liuilding we can sec the town of \'erdun about a kilometer awav. Men are 
not allowed outside durinj^; the day and must not smoke outside at night 
on account of danger of enemy observation. Wc go out at night for exer- 
cise. The glass is all gone from the windows. From the noise up front it 
doesn't sound as if the Boche were quitting. We can see shell bursting in 
\'erdun. Counted ninety-eight planes going over today, all in a bunch. 
Lt. Frank Christensen ])ays us a visit. He is now in 79th Div. Rumor 
Austria and Ttn-key have quit. 

OCT. 11. There are numberless French graves and they say half a 
million soldiers are buried in -this region. They are the men who made 
the French war-cry, "They shall not pass" a reality. A 320 mm. U. S. 
naval gun came in on the railroad near here and makes night hideous. 
The craze for making finger rings of one-franc pieces has struck the outfit 
— "Everybody's doin' it". A good deal of box-fighting in B Co. There 
is a French Foyer dii Soldat in one of the buildings, where our men read, 
write and indulge in that famous American pastime known as "African 
Golf". When Dr. Miel, who is stationed near here, comes to see us he is 
warned to hang on to his money. Some of us have had a chance to look 
over Verdun, and find the citadel with its underground passages, the bat- 
tered cathedral, the picturesque gateways most interesting. Earl Cham- 
bers, brother of Tom, has come to us after being wounded with the 4th 
Div. 

OCT. 12. The "Interrupter" came back from Paris with the rumor 
that the Kaiser has abdicated in favor of one of his kaiserlings. He says 
the end is near, because he saw many of the "kings of finance" who have 
made fortunes out of the war moping about Paris with long faces. Each 
man got a pajoer which entitles him to have one Christmas box sent from 
heme. Dr. Hesselgrave celebrates his 50th birthday. 

OCT. 13. Rumor Germans have accepted Wilson's "fourteen condi- 
tions"; Germans want Foch and Ludendorf to get together; French take 
3"), 000 ])risoners. Meanwhile the war goes on just the same. It's getting 
so we don't believe a thing now. Sgt. Herb Ratenburg, Sanit. Detachment, 
gets the D. S. C. for gallantry at Chateau-Thierry. 

OCT. 14. Sgts. Parker, Ruft' Allen, Whitney and I^rown of B Co. and 
Sgts. Bill Allen, Berlin, Dvirston and Hansel of C Co., and Sgt. Major 
Heymann sent to officers' school. "Bub" Hill made 1st sgt. of B Co. and 
"Pip" Johnson of C Co. Laon has fallen to Allies. 

OCT. 16. Some of the officers went u]) to the Front to reconnoiter. 
Piled into the ears and started at 7 p. M. Got shelled on the wav. A frag- 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 125 

ment cut Jack O'Neil's ear and another one went through top of the truck's 
tank. Tank only half full so truck was not disabled. There was a lot of 
traffic on the road and progress was slow. At 11 p. m. we pulled up behind 
some roadside camouflage near a cross-road opposite the town of Vacherau- 
ville, and spent the night. We could hear machine-guns "pup-pupping" 
up in the front line. The men went up into some abandoned trenches in 
the side hill. Sgt. Ev. Hart left with "flu". 

OCT. 17. The famous pock-marked Cote du Poivre lies near us and 
in a field we can see the remnants of the train which brought the gallant 
zouaves right into the fighting during the great defense of Verdun by the 
French. The cross-roads gets a good deal of intermittent shelling, as does 
Vacherauville and other places around here. Some big ones were bounced 
on our hill, so the boys had to duck for cover. Who said peace? After 
mess the Battalion kitchens and base were moved to Bras about a mile 
away. Bras is smashed to pieces. 

OCT. 18. This a. m. a dud went through four thicknesses of logs into 
a dugout and killed a dentist asleep in his bunk. He never knew what hit 
him — the shell cut him in two. Three French tanks came into Bras at 
noon, being all that was left of seventeen that had gone over the top. 
The others had fallen into a concealed trench the Germans had made 
against tanks, and they could not be gotten out. 

OCT. 19. Lille, Ostend and Douai taken by British. While at noon 
mess a shell burst close by and a fragment cut Brewer's puttee. Troops 
and trains are parked right in the open, as though to tell the Germans 
we are here and don't care who knows it. All the woods are shot down and 
there is no concealment anyway. 

OCT. 20. They shelled Bras last night and at 3 A. m. we got gassed 
for half an hour. Hyde and Johnston of C Co. sick to hospital. Papers 
tell of big epidemic of "flu" in the States. It is hard to tell whether we 
worry most about the home-folks now, or they about us. The world is 
certainly being punished. 

OCT. 21. Saw one of our planes swoop down and drop a message 
into Vacherauville. "Father" Williams, Brennan and Coleinan sick to 
hospital. We hear this front is a pivot, and the Germans will hold it at 
all costs, so we are likely to have a lively time driving them out. Special 
British gas units have come in to work with our Division. We expect to 
go into line tonight to do barrage work, and are waiting to start. 

OCT. 22. At midnight orders were countermanded, so we did not 
move. The Battalion train was moved to Marre this morning. Marre is 




1. Dugouts at Seuzcv Woods — St. Mihiel. 2. Captured German truck — St. Miliiel. 3. "Y" at 
Seuzey Woods. 4. Wreck of famous Zouave.train north of Verdun, o. lOLst M. G. Bn, intrenches 
at Vachorauville — ^Verdun. (i. C Comiiaiiy men at l^oisdo Hrahant — X'cnlun. 7. Battalion P C. 
at Bois de Brabant — \'er(hin. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 127 

flat like all the other towns. We hear that Gen. Edwards is to be relieved 
of command and sent home to train a new division. This is about the 
best way G. H. Q. at Chaumont can take to break down our morale. It 
seems as though no chance is ever lost to hit our Division. We cannot 
understand it, but suppose there is jealousy of the National Guard. Ben 
Bourn came in with reconnaissance party from front lines, and says we 
are going to a bad place. Orders to move at midnight. Guns and ammuni- 
tion sent ahead in cars, but Battalion went on foot leaving packs behind. 
A beautiful moonlight night. There are Boche planes in the air, and we 
think they may bomb us, as they can probably see us on the road. Marched 
up past Samogneux, and down through "Death Valley", and while there 
is shelling, nothing comes very close. Reached our position on a side hill 
in the Bois de Brabant-sur-Meuse at 4 a. m. 

OCT. 23. Got the guns and carried them up on the hill, and set the 
batteries for barrage fire. B Co.'s guns had to be moved further up the 
hill, as it was found their fire would not clear the crest. They went to the 
top, while C Co.'s position was about half-way down the rear slope — they 
firing on different enemy positions. We were to help cover the attack of our 
infantry. At 6 a. m. our artillery started, and we opened, according to 
schedule, fifteen minutes later. All the men not needed to work the guns 
were ordered to wait in the trenches just in rear until they were needed. 
Enemy fire soon descended on us and things became lively. A dud crashed 
through the trench and passed between two of our first-aid men, burying 
itself in the other side. Shell were exploding all about and splintering 
through the air in every direction, and the concussions made it very diffi- 
cult for the gunners to keep their pieces at the proper elevation. They had 
to be constantly checked up. We continued the fire for one hour, and then 
were ordered to move back into the shelter of the trenches. During this 
engagement Cpl. Bob Collins, Audette and M. H. Gray were killed and 
Lt. Cupples, Finlayson, Hyland and Lamkins of C Co. and Lt. Gilbert 
Taggart, Cpl. Yerges, Paul Lambert and Bill Smith of B Co. seriously 
wounded. Less badly wounded were Briggs, A. N. Jones, Cetner, Fai- 
kowski of B Co. and Sgt. Cal Ward, A. Morrill, Neilson, Alton, Herb 
Chew, Baker, Pickel of C Co. Sgt. Bruemmer of B Co. was knocked down 
by a piece of shell which hit him in the chest, but refused to be evacuated. 
Lt. Cassidy slightly wounded but not evacuated. Did some more harassing 
fire during the afternoon. At night mess came up in a truck with a load 
of ammunition. We sent a detail down to the "Quarry" to bring it up on 
the hill. A little hole in the ground was used for Battalion P. C. and 
dressing-station. There were no decent dugout shelters in this place. 



128 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

OCT. 24. We had orders to do some more shootinc^ today. Our d<)U<,di- 
boys got their objectives yesterday and repulsed counter-attacks. The 
whole Di\'ision is getting dreadful ]junishment, and it is difficult to hold 
positions gained. Marion Chew wounded and Kearney, Keene and LaRock 
sent back. The Boche are throwing big H. E. shell on our i)osition, and in 
the valley below, most of the time, so we keep under coxier as much as 
possible. This evening 1st Platoon of B Co. was sent uj) to the front line 
under Lt. Wainwright to reinforce the 101st Inf. which had been hard hit. 
Just as they were leaving the Inf. P. C. a fusilade of Boche 88's landed on 
them and they had to juinp for a trench. No one was hurt. They had to 
climb a steep hill over a path knee-deep in mud, and while winding ihrcnigh 
the woods on their way to the front line battalions the infantry runner 
guiding them got lost in the darkness. After wandering along wood-paths 
till dawn in an effort to find the way, the men became utterly exhausted 
from carrying their heavy loads through the mire. The Boche began to 
lace the woods with artillery fire so the Platoon was withdrawn to the in- 
fantry P. C. and a new guide was asked for. 

OCT. 26. At the P. C. we were told by Col. Logan that wc would not 
be needed at ])resent, as something had gone wrong with the infantry 
schedule, and that we should wait there for orders. Up on a hill a dugout 
was found where the whole Platoon was at least protected, although the 
place was ^•ery wet. We could not depend on the Battalion for iness so 
we found a kitchen of another outfit a half-mile away, and inade arrange- 
ments with them to feed us in relay's. During the day the condition of the 
men was seen to be such that they were unfit to take part in offensive 
fighting, so the Lieutenant sent a message back to the Battalion asking 
that a fresh lot of men be sent to take their places. That night another 
platoon, i)icked from the men in the best condition, rc])ortcd to him under 
Sgt. Bruemmer. A memoral)le council of war took place in the P. C. dug- 
out of the 101st Inf. when Col. Logan returned from Division Hqrs. and 
broke the news to his staff that he had been relieved of command of the 
Regiment. This news was received in eloquent silence. He turned the 
Regiment over to his next in command, Lt. Col. Grcenway, an efficient 
officer, but there was considerable dismay. Brig. Gen. Bamford had taken 
command of the Division. The attack for the next day was ])lanned out — 
two battalions of the 101st Inf. were to consolidate as one, and our Platoon 
was assigned to this battalion. The bodies of Audettc, Collins and Gray 
were taken to Glorieux Cemetery yesterday and buried there b\- the Chap- 
lain. News came of the death of Verges and Lambert of B Co., and Lt. 
Cup])les, Finlayson and H\-!an(l of C Co. Bobbx- Hax'cs was badl\- wounded 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 129 

while driving his car in Verdun on the 23rd. He was rushed to a hos- 
pital. 

OCT. 27. The Platoon with the 101st Inf. started from the regimental 
P. C. at 7 A. M. and went vip into the Houppy Bois with the consolidated 
battalion which is under command of a 1st lieutenant. Apparently the 
whole Regiment, what is left of it, is here as there is another battalion 
with some machine-guns about two hundred yards ahead up in the Belleu 
Bois. We set up our guns in carefully selected positions along the edge of 
the Woods looking across the open space toward Belleu Wood. Our orders 
are not to do any firing unless Fritz comes through, and then we are to 
hold at all costs while our infantry forms behind us under cover of our 
fire. Two men are to stay with each gun and be systematically relieved 
by the others, who are within call further down the hill. We are digging 
individual "fox-holes", and some of the boys are in a little half-dug trench. 
Each day we have to send a detail back a mile or so along the Molleville 
Ravine to the infantry kitchens to bring back rations. This is dangerous 
work on account of frequent shelling, and we have to watch our step. 
There are a good many bodies of American doughboys here and there, 
both of our Division and the 29th which is on our left. They cannot be 
buried yet. Our doughboys are in one edge of Belleu Wood — Boche in the 
other. They are mostly lying in shell-holes, and it is not safe to stick up 
your head during the day. They are using trench mortars and grenades a 
good deal. 

OCT. 28. Platoon in Houppy Bois got a little gas this a. m. when the 
sun came out and brought it up from the valleys below. Charlie Miel,- 
who is a "runner", was sent back to Battalion P. C. with a message last 
night. The Lieutenant called for a volunteer to go back with him on ac- 
count of the danger of one man getting hit while alone, and Louis Hart 
spoke up. Gardiner Hall went with them, being evacuated sick. Not long 
after they left, the Germans sent down a savage barrage, though all was 
quiet when they started. Before long Miel came running back and reported 
Hart badly wounded. They had not been able to move him, and Hall 
stayed while Miel came back for help. Our two Ist-aid men were sent out 
with a stretcher, but returned with the news that Hart was dead when 
they reached him. Miel and Hall then went on with the message. Later 
in the day we sent out a detail, brought Hart's body down to the infantry 
battalion P. C. and buried him. 

OCT. 29. The Battalion has been getting much shelling and gas. 
Bobby Hayes is reported dead. Snipes and "Rookie" Phillips are wounded. 
Many men affected by gas. Ray Gustetter drove his car up to the Battalion 



130 llisioKv oi- 'I'm. lOlsi Machine (u'N Baiiai.ion 

last niglit with C C^tv rations. Durins;- iho nii.^ht a slu^ll rii)i)0(l liis tires. 
He started to (ix tlu-ni this nioniin^, when anotlier shi-U eame and eut an- 
other tire so (his det'ides to l;() baek on llats. 7!Mh I)i\-. rehcned the 2!Uh 
on oiu" riL;ht. vSonie more men liad to be sent up from om" base to repkn'e 
losses. Saw a German plane eonie down in llames. 

OC'T. 'M). A do/.en men wc-re .scmU haek last ni,i;ht on account of .u;as 
burns. It was jiititul to see lluMn beinj; led with bandai.;es i)\er their eyes. 
Mai. Bulkelev and Doc Powell ha\i> been gassed. Two of om- I"(M-ds got 
smashed to bits. Hear the Di\ision is going to be shifttnl to anotlier sector 
on the riglit. We ha\e hardl\- enough to man the guns propcrh' now. 

OCT. 'M. Cius Brzostowiez tried to shoot ilown llun ]4ane with a 
rillc\ Orders that we will go out tonight. Nobody sorr\- ! B Oo.'s plattnin 
at llonpi)V came back in broad day, ha\-ing jnckeil a time when lhe\- had 
observed the Boche did not usually shell. Not a thing fell near them. The 
Battalion, what is left of it. came out piecemeal, starting at dusk on fool, 
after sending the guns in by motor. Lucky and got no shelling, though 
had to ])ass through unite a strong gas concentration near Samogneux. 
Tired and st)rrv-looking Uit of hobos when we got to Marn- abi)ut nine. 
Had not shavctl or washed for over a week. The cars met us at our old 
cross-road. 'Vhc cooks had a good hot nn-al read\-, and it did not take us 
long to fall into a bunk after that. We had had scarcely any sleep for a 
week, and had sulTcrcd from the coU\. not to mention shelling and gas. 

NOW 1. A big Inmch were sent to hospital on account o\ gas this 
nun-ning. Most oi tluMU cannol sjieak abox-c a whisper; their e\-es are in- 
llametl and some are badl\- burned. The Battalion nia\- be said to ha\e 
lost its voice ^st> man\- are aftcctcd. 

N0\'. 2. Paper sa\s tO.OlH) .\ustrians taken b\- the "Wops". Dr. 
Hesselgra\"e t\unc> u]) from \'crdmi with candy and cookies. Major Bulkeley 
and Capt. Powell evacuated on account of gas. Oapt. Myers can only 
whisper — but not bad eiuuigh to be sent awa\-. lie now takes command 
of Battalion. t\ipt. Moore is our new surgeon. Toda\- we were startled 
bv suddenlv hearing the blare of a band playing the "2d Conn. Regiment 
March". All hands tumbled out of dugouts and came running to the 
"square" where nian\- o\ us rccogni/cil our old fricMul, Lt. l-'rancis Suther- 
land, one tune leader of the Fool Cniard Band in llartfonl, waxing his 
baton at his outfit. It proved to be the band of the lOtth Artillery, 27th 
Div.. which regiment was doing duty on this front. Bill\- O'Xicl had ukuIc 
the di.seovery that they were u\i at Ft. de Marre not far olY, and one word 
from him to Sutherland that the Hartford outlit was down in the town, 



HiSTi^Kv ov Till lOlsi M ACHixK ("ivx Battat.iox 1;>1 

iusl out o\ I lie linos was onoui^li. l^ill\- was mado lo lake I ho snaro ilruiu 
and pla\- with iho haiul. aiul ii was o\iilont ihal ho had nol t\n-i;oUon how 
to wiiigio tho siioks. This niusio hit tho spin, and dirl wmidors to choor us 
up, and thoro was not a man whoso spint^ did not thrill to tho strains o\ 
that taniiliar inaroh. Wo ontortainod tho hand at moss al'tor tho oonoort 
was o\or, and thou;;h t'oi^hlo, it was tho onl\- wa\- wo oould oxpross om- 
appreoialion to thoso Im^vs of what thoir attontion nioani lo us, asido from 
tho i^lad hand and ohoor wo i^a\o thorn. 

Xt)\'. ;■>. Moix^ mon o\aouatod with j;as. C^ajit. Mvors is aotin^' Di- 
visional M. tl. otlioor, ihoui^h sta\in,i; with tho Hn. l-lxpoot \o i^o up as^ain 
soon. Wo nood replaoomonls. Capl. Mills baok fi\nu sohool. Tho Battalion 
was oomplimontod by Bris;. Gon. Sholtou. under whoso oommatui wo woro 
aotin*; at Brabant Woods, for om- aoourato and offootixo work Ihoro. Got 
now i^un-barrols for thoso used up last wook, Tho Dixision has uo{ boon 
rolioNod, but moved over to the rij^ht. 

NtA'. 4. Miiro mon to hosjiiial. Thoro is muoh air ai-ti\-it\-. A balloon 
was shot down near us b\- a low-tl\in;; plane. It was a olo\or piooo oi work. 
Tho plane ^ot away. 

NC)\\ .">. Austria is out o\' it for sure. Allies before Ghent. Suthor- 
kuid's band oamo diiwn and i;a\o us another oonoort. It was fine I 

NG\'. (). I"" red Grossklaus. Elmer Tii^or and se\-eral others o\-aeuated. 
Comorl'ord, wlui roplaoed Johnson as "Top" of C^ Co., ^oes {o Imspital with 
gas burns, G Go. reori;anized into two platoons. lloo\-or v^mith aotiui;- 
"To]i" and Barno\- GraiT aotinj; moss .s^t. Total stron,>;lh inoludiui; waj;- 
oners and oooks 107. Wo will ha\e some lime tr\inj; to opt^rato all our 
twelve ,>;uns. B Go. in about tho same tix. Bn. has loss than !()() mon 
otTeelixo t'or hard fii^htini^ in tho ,s;un-orows. 

NO\'. 7. Tho balloon from tho Mori llommo was towwl through- town 
.U'oini; u]). Tho mon toll us that tho \'anks gained oii^ht kilometers last 
night. Gur lieutenants go up on rooonnais.sanoo, whioh would indieate that 
wo go in soon again. Grders to mo\o up tonight, but thev are otninter- 
mandod. Rumors of peaoe galore, but tho faet is, this war is all oxer but 
the shooting. Dr. Miol and Dr. Hesselgravo oamo over to see us. Tho 
latter gave away ehooolate and eigarettes from tho "V". 

N0\'. S. Another day of wild riunors and t'ow laots. Papers toll of 
Gonnans sending delegates to reooive tonus. A radio saiil Germans ha\e 
been told to meet Marshal Foeh at a oertain time and plaoe. The fellows 
have it all doped out that it may be possible for G. "H. G. to .spare the 



132 History of The 101st Machink Gun Battalion 

26th long enough for furloughs — provided there is an armistice. Sedan 
captured by Americans. 

NOV. 9. Assembly at 5.40 a. m. Breakfast at 6. Orders to roll packs. 
Pulled out for Bras where Division Hqrs. is. Two officers sent up front to 
see if roads passable for our cars. They find impossible to get cars through. 
Battalion waits with fli\-vers lined up in town for word to go forward. 
Men find shelter in various dugouts. Bras is in S.O.S. now — lines have 
moved so far up. Our kitchens still in Marre and bring food up in cars. 

NOV. 10. Barney Graff came up with the chuck-wagon from Marre. 
He says, "About ten last night, while I was lying in my bunk, reading the 
"vStars and Stripes", I heard the famihar hum of a Hun motor, and at once 
put out the candle. Next came the whistle and explosion of a bomb close 
by. I received company right away. Bracken, Thornton, Dalton, Hutch 
and several more came falling over each other down the stairs into the 
dugout. This bird drop]jed a dozen, all told, right into the middle of our 
peaceful town. The old dugout shook and rattled, and I'm ready to swear 
it turned completely around ! One landed near the infirmary and blew in 
all the canvas windows in the Chaplain's shack". Some of B Co. cooks 
found a covey of partridges next morning, all dead without a mark on 
them — killed by the concussion. The kitchen gang had a rare treat. Jack 
Molloy and Pip Johnson back from hospital bringing a paper that says 
the Germans have until 11 a. m. tomorrow to accept our terms. The war 
must be nearly o\-er, as furloughs came through and eight men left the 
outfit for Grenoble ! 

NOV. 11. We are still waiting orders at Bras. Told firing will cease 
at 11 this morning. You have got to show us! The "Frogs" say it is over, 
and grin from ear to car. The artillery is pounding harder than ever. We 
are waiting for 11 o'clock, and as the time draws near, we look at our 
watches. Suddenly there is a queer silence — we don't know what to think 
or do. It is true — but no one wants to shout or laugh. We just cannot 
realize the significance of it. Here we were, onh- a few moments ago, ready 
to jump into our cars and go out and shoot up the Boche. or get shot up. 
What will ha]:)pcn, and where are we going now? Nothing happens, and 
we just light u]) another cigarette. Pretty soon a Poilu, somewhat the 
worse for cognac, comes running out of a dugout and shouts ''Fini la 
guerre"! — another, also the worse for co^)iac, comes along the road driving 
a camion. He takes both hands from the wheel, waves them wildl>-, and 
shouts at the top of his lungs, ''luni la guerre"! He grabs the wheel again, 
just in time to prevent the trvick from nmning into the ditch. The French 
are taking it more liilariouslv than the Yanks — but they have been fighting 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 133 

four years longer. As darkness sets in, the sky for miles around is aglow 
with fires, rockets, and flares of all colors. Even whole boxes of gun-powder 
are set off and go up with a roar and blaze of glory. We are ordered back 
to Marre, and the flivvers line up on the road to receive us with all head- 
lights streaming out into the night. It is a novel sight, and the first time 
we have seen such a thing all through the war. Perhaps this is one of the 
things that most impresses us with the reality of the armistice. We think 
of home, and the great celebration they must be having, and wonder how 
long it will be before we get there. We have had the hardest duty experi- 
enced in any sector. Eleven men killed, 22 wounded, and 75 gassed, beside 
many others slightly affected. 

NOV. 12. Got into Marre at 1 last night. Paper tells of flight of 
Kaiser and Crown Prince to Holland. 

NOV. 13. Battalion went up to Ville-devant-Chaumont to be part 
of the line patrol there with the 104th Inf. It is on the line where the ad- 
vance of our Division stopped. It seems queer to walk around at the 
Front without any attempt at concealment, and without expecting any 
moment to have a shell or sniper's bullet knock your head off. French and 
British prisoners are beginning to filter through our lines. One man stopped 
when he saw our sentries in a strange uniform, and seemed half inclined to 
beat it. He was motioned on, and finally screwed up courage to come 
ahead. He said he did not know that we were Americans, and was afraid 
we might be Boche troops in a new unifonn and might treat him rough. 
He was a Belgian who had been a prisoner since 1914. Some Italians came 
through. We gave these men some of our food and cigarettes. 

NOV. 14. We were relieved by an outfit of the 6th Div., and went 
back to Marre. Understand the whole Division is pulling out. 

NOV. 15. Eighteen men go on leave to Aix-les-Bains. We can now 
write home and tell exactly where we are and all that, and hasten to im- 
prove the opportunity before G. H. Q. changes one of its minds. We hear 
that the Division is to form part of the Arm>' of Occupation in Germany, 
an honor to which it is surely entitled, but hear later that G. H. Q. has 
changed another mind, because we are so "reduced in effective fighting 
strength" and our wheel transportation is so shot to pieces. Let them give 
us transportation from some of the S.O.S. divisions, send us replacements, 
and we will start now. We understand on the highest authority, that our 
present Division Commander is responsible for this latest piece of business. 
He has not caught the spirit of the Division, but we expect to assimilate 
him in time and he will have to learn some of our traditions. The Bat- 




1. luJ.l liil.uilry P. C. on Ariiiistioo noon — Bill Scoville. 2. First leave ^'uiis; fnini the liattalion 
at Verdun, '.i. Louvidres. 4. Chiitoau, officers' quarters, Louvieres. .'>. Billet of C Con pany wag- 
oners, Louvieres. 6. B Company baseball, Louvieres. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 135 

talion leaves Marre and proceeds by motor to Nubecourt, where we bil- 
leted. 

NOV. 17. Lt. Wainwright, "Hoover" Smith have gone to M. G. 
school, Ted Whitney to gas school. Left Nubecourt and hiked to Villotte- 
devant-St. Mihiel. Most of our cars have been sent to a division in the 
Army of Occupation — huh ! 

NOV. 21. Arrived in Louvieres today, after having traveled, partly 
on foot and partly by truck, since leaving Nubecourt on the 17th. Stopped 
over night at Villotte-devant-St. Mihiel, Demange, Dainvillc and Coussey. 
Louvieres is another very small hamlet — the kind we always seem to draw 
— but we set about trying to make ourselves comfortable. The billets are 
nothing to boast about, and require much cleaning. There are three 
Adrian barracks, one of which is "Y" headquarters and the other two pro- 
vide mess-halls. There is the usual little eglise and a fair chateau where 
some of the officers are billeted. No cafe — only a tiny one-room store car- 
rying not much of anything. The Bn. is pretty well scattered about the 
town. Bamford has been relieved and Gen. Hale takes Division. 

NOV. 27. Lts. Gray, Scoville and Way visit from school. Lt. Clegg, 
former Bn. dentist, rejoins. Four B Co. men hurt when something ex- 
ploded in fireplace of their billet. Buck may lose sight of one eye. 

NOV. 28. Thanksgiving Day. We have much to be thankful for. 
Dinner menu : roast beef with gravy, mashed potatoes, turnips, peach pie, 
chocolate pudding, cocoa, beer, cigars and cigarettes. 

NOV. 29. About a dozen men to hospital with grippe, and Battalion 
is quarantined. 

DEC. 1. Word comes that Franklin Allen died in hospital of pneu- 
monia. 

DEC. 4. Graff appointed mess sgt., Costello and Zymiski, cooks of 
C Co. Our long-lost barrack-bags turned up. 

DEC. 5. Quarantine lifted. Walter Schutz and Major E. Terry Smith 
came to see us. They are going home to Hartford, and took a lot of messages 
to relatives. 

DEC. 7. Bill Tieman gets commission. "Colonel" Woronick leaves 
us to be an interpreter in Army of Occupation, as he speaks German. 

DEC. 9. Gus Brzostowicz died in hospital at Montigny. Twenty-five, 
replacements came from 76th Div. 

DEC. 10. Battalion turned out to hear Gen. Hale, the new Division 
Commander, tell what he expects of us. He says we may go into Army of 



136 History of The 101st Machine Gux Battalion 

Occupation; may go to German}- to fight again; or may go home. No doubt 
he is right. If there is more scrapping we will go to Germany all right 
enough. Gen. Hale seems to be 0. K. 

DEC. 11. Trumbull, Tiger, Smith, Alton, Glenny and Pascale return 
to C Co. Ackley is back and Sam Thornton goes to line as sgt. Neilsen 
made sgt., McGinn and Eniie Clark corporals, Hutchinson cook. 

DEC. 14. Battalion went to shoot on range near Nogent. Coleman 
and Seaver back from hospital. Mail from U. S. tells of Walter Lamkins' 
death though we never got an official notice. 

DEC. 16. Armistice prolonged until Jan. 17. 

DEC. 18. Battalion went out to "brush up" for review to Pres. Wilson 
on Christmas. 

DEC. 20. Bill O'Niel transferred to 102d Inf. band. Whit Tieman's 
twin brother visited him and they had some fun with the gang. You can't 
tell them apart. 

DEC. 21. Lt. "Joe Gish" Scoville came back and is assigned to C Co. 
Clegg gets some more "inside information" and says we leave for home 
about Jan. 1. He is a well-informed dentist. One of the replacements got 
the mumps and twenty-five of them are now in quarantine. Some of us 
have been to Chaumont, "Grand Headquarters", and seen the chateau 
where Gen. Pershing is "billeted". 

DEC. 23. The village gets a thorough scinibbing, inside and out, for 
possible inspection by the President. Order from G. H. Q. that all surplus 
non-coms must be transferred or reduced to privates. Sgt. Ev Hart back to 
B Co. from hospital. We are drilling every day, rain or shine — mostly rain. 

DEC. 24. Christmas Eve celebration! Bill O'Niel wants to transfer 
back to us. 

DEC. 25. Christmas. The President didn't visit us, but went to 
Montigny where he was entertained at Division Hqrs. This is a decided 
compliment to the 26th. B Co. bought a lot of young pigs which they had 
for dinner. 

DEC. 26. "Father" Williams' "Quad" turned turtle with a load of 
wood and went into a ditch full of water. "Father" thought the war was 
on again. Some sgts. and cpls. had to be reduced, being "surplus". 

DEC. 27. Maj. Lawrence Watres of Scranton, Pa., and formerly with 
28th Div., is assigned to command the Battalion. He is O.K. Li. Gray 
comes back to B Co. 

DEC. 31. New Years Eve party! 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 137 

1919 

JAN. 1. New Years! Co. C had some young pigs this time. Big feed! 

JAN. 4. Another inspection! The Battahon went out into a field at 
8.45. Hung arotmd there until 2 p. m., when two colonels and two majors 
from G. H. Q. showed tip and went over us with a "fine tooth comb". 

JAN. 6. Speeches of President, Secretary of War and Gen. Pershing 
read to us at formation. We hold retreat at 4 p. m, dail}^ Range-practice 
this morning. Good sport. 

JAN. 9. Gen. Hale says the Di\dsion is going home. Yesterday some 
of the officers and non-coms went out to take part in "skeleton" Corps 
maneuvers. 

JAN. 13. Turned in machine-guns and pistols yesterday. Three in- 
spections of kitchens today — Col. Foote from Div. Hqrs., the Major, and 
Lt. Wainwright. 

JAN. 14. Two kitchen inspections — the Major and Lt. Gray. 

JAN. 15. One inspection. Going down! 

JAN. 16. Two more inspections — the Captain and Lt. Gray. Maj. 
Watres transferred back to 28th Div. Capt. Myers takes command. 

JAN. 17. Four kitchen and quarters inspections — Major from Hqrs., 
Capt. Myers, Lt. Agnew, and Lt. Gray! They will get to know something 
about us one of these days. 

JAN. 18. Somebody went to Saacy to buy eggs. After long search 
found two. Gasolene fire at chateau. Papers say U. S. going "dry"! ! 
What is the matter ? The war is over now ! 

JAN. 20. Bill O'Niel gets transfer back to outfit. Have been having 
daily drills, maneuvers, inspections and calisthenics. Sections and platoons 
play "gentlemen's football" almost every afternoon. It is too wet and 
muddy for the regular article, but we enjoy the games. 

JAN. 22. 3rd Platoon trimmed 2d Platoon of B Co. at baseball yes- 
terda}^ 3rd Platoon of Co. C gave a good minstrel and vaudeville show in 
the "Y" shack. Joe Clark and Joe Comerford had important parts. 

JAN. 23. Ruff Allen, Berlin, Hen Brown, Durston, Hansel, Heymann 
and Dute Parker came back from officer's school. They were not given 
commissions owing to armistice. 1900 francs were collected in the outfit 
to help two poor families here. 

JAN. 25. At 11.30 A. M. the Battalion was inspected in full marching 



138 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

order by Gen. Hale. He looked over every man, and then we passed in 
review by company front in quick-tiinc, and then in double-time. There 
was no criticism. 

JAN. 26. 101st Engrs. gave us a show at the "Y". 

JAN. 27. Last night had first real snow of the year — about two 
inches. Snowball fight. 

JAN. 31. Said good-bye to Louvieres at 5.30, and marched over to 
Foulain where we are to entrain for the Le Mans Area. Train did not 
back in until 10.30, so we hung around the station and built fires to keep 
warm. Our train pulled out at 1 a. m. 

FEB. 1. Passed a big wreck which occurred a day or two ago. Heard 
several of our Division were killed, — the irony of fate! Saw many German 
R. R. cars which are part of the rolling-stock turned over according to 
terms of the armistice. 

FEB. 2. Traveled all day and night. It was cold. At 6.30 p. m. ar- 
rived at Aubigny where the tnicks and kitchens were unloaded. The Bat- 
talion went on to Mayet, and unloaded at 7. Nash drove his "Spad" into 
a ditch and it turned turtle. "Father" Williams and Gould were with him. 
A drum of gasolene flew over Gould's head, and the "Spad" was a total 
wreck, though none of the crew were hurt. A few more such events and 
"Father" will be a nervous wreck ! The kitchens arrived at Mansigne before 
the rest of the Battalion, and had hot coffee ready when they got in about 
11.30 after a long hike over froin Mayet. 

FEB. 3. The outfit was billeted as well as possible during the night. 
The Battalion is spread all over town — a radius of a mile and a half. The 
platoons are kept pretty well together. Part of C Co. is in an outlying 
farm, and part of B Co. has taken possession of an erstwhile beer-garden 
and dance hall, where they have their "ticks"* on the floor and in a little 
gallery running around the inside. The Battalion has never been so scat- 
tered before, and the C. O. is not very well satisfied with the billets. He 
may try to get us moved to another town where there is more room. The 
102d M. G. Bn. is in the "business section" of the town. 

FEB. 7. B Co. had competitive squad drill and a long hike in the rain 
this A. M. Capt. Mills is in command of B Co. and Lt. Comey is shifted 
to Bn. Adjutant. Sam Thornton came back from hospital. 

FEB. 11. Wood is very scarce — even the farmers do not want to sell 
it. Some of our cars have been sent out, and came back without being able 
to buy any. Rifles have been issued for drill purposes and to give us some- 



* Bed-sacks filled with straw. 



History or The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 139 

thing to do beside "squads east and west". Furloughs are "on" again, and 
we have choice of three days in Paris, or a week in a regular leave area. 
At the latter your way is paid, but you go "on your own" if you pick Paris. 
A school for illiterates has been started by the Chaplain and some of the 
officers. 

FEB. 15. Because of shortage of transportation two saddle-horses, 
two mules and a wagon have been issued the Battalion. 

FEB. 18. Bracken and Johnson back from a three-day trip to Paris 
after having been away six days! A colonel and major of this Area made 
an inspection which seemed to satisfy them. C Co.'s kitchen was so full 
of smoke they couldn't see it anyway, and didn't care to stay in there long. 
There was a sentry on duty inside, and the colonel asked if he was trying 
to commit suicide. Cal Ward in from hospital. 

FEB. 19. The outfit went over to Eccomoy, Div. Hqrs. town, to get 
in the Divisional review by Gen. Pershing. It was a magnificent sight. 
The General passed up and down the long lines and looked at every man. 
He stopped and had a "friendly chat" with Sgt. Chandler. He walked so 
fast that he had his staft' who were following gasping for breath. It was 
funny to see them sloshing through the mud, and their boots did not stay 
shiny long. Someone, probably Chandler, says Pershing is the best looking 
soldier in the A. E. F. As he passed by, he said to one of our officers, 
"That is a fine looking outfit. Captain." The gang got back at 6.45 tired, 
wet, and hungry; but the show was worth it. Officially notified of death 
of Lt. Cupples and Walter Lamkins. 

FEB. 20. No calls today in order to give the boys a rest after yester- 
day. 

FEB. 21. B Co. put on a show in the school-house last night. Quite 
a success. Chandler got a Poilu imiform, and sang "Madeloii" in French, 
to the great delight of the French civilians in the audience. Lt. Clegg, 
dressed as a "wop", did some fine playing and imitations on his violin. 
Sgt. Ed Harrington was an attractive school teacher until his wig fell off. 
The wig, incidentally, was a switch direct from the coiffure of one of the 
lady storekeepers who lent it for the occasion. Decator clogged, Evan Gott 
sang, and Blume did a funny "hula-hula" dance in his underclothes and 
a straw skirt. B Co.'s famous octette did some good singing, the string 
trio held forth, and "Com Willy" Parker contributed largely to the suc- 
cess of the occasion. Good-natured hits were made at officers and men 
regardless. Bob Skinner composed most of the lyrics; and the show was 
coached by Lt. Wainwright. The war on cooties keeps up, as there are 




1. B Company sordoaiits ai I .i.in nr,> _■ \\ im.r at i..u\h'i,.- ., Ispicai imifi Kiicheii. t. A 
C Company liillct cntianco at Loiiviercs. .5. "The Beer Garden" — billet of 1st Platoon. B Com- 
pany, (i. H Company kitolien at Mansigne. 7. "Hommes 40, Cheveaux 8" — bound for Brest. 
8. Weloome-boat of Welfare .\ssoeiation — Boston. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 141 

still a few hardy ones left here and there. There has been much platoon 
drill competition, getting ready for a Division tournament. The 2d Platoon 
of B Co. beat out the 3rd, owing to superior skill in the manual of arms, 
but the 3rd Platoon claim they can march better. This p. m. B Co.'s 2d 
Platoon defeated one from C Co. in competition. 

FEB. 22. Washington's Birthday and no drill. Good show by our 
old A Co. (now D, 102d M. G. Bn.) in evening. 

FEB. 23. vSailing list of A. E. F. published and 2Gth is to go — probably 
early in April. 

FEB. 24. Mess Sgt. Bannister of B Co. goes to school in England. 

FEB. 25. About eight men left to take courses of study at French 
universities. 2d Platoon, B Co., lost competition with one from 102d M. G. 
Bn., but a sc^uad of C Co. beat them in a squad drill. 

FEB. 28. A ntimber of officers and men have been given forty-eight 
hour passes to visit Tours, a large city near by. Others are going and com- 
ing on leaves. 

MARCH 1. Chaplain Taggart and Lt. Nesbit leave. Clegg promoted 
to captain. 

MARCH 3. Major Westbrook arrives and takes command of Bat- 
talion. Great rejoicing to get him back, and to know we will go home under 
one of our own officers. 

MARCH 8. Farmers have started plowing, and our "agents" are 
starting baseball. Someone discovered a farm where they sell good cider. 
It is a popular place in the long evenings. 

MARCH 11. Pip Johnson gives a party in his billet at which Zeke 
Ackley and Pop Glenny shine. 

MARCH 12. B and C have an athletic meet and baseball game and 
C Co. wins both. Eggs are now 90c a dozen. 

MARCH 15. Leaves are called off. We hear some of our units start 
for the coast in a few days. Full field-inspection this a. m. 

MARCH 17. Lt. Sandberg transferred from B to C. Yesterday turned 
in rifles. Co. C team lost to Co. A, 102d M. G. Bn., at baseball. Lt. Gilbert 
Shepard rejoins B Co. 

MARCH 18. Battalion marched six kilometers to a big field where 
there was a showdown inspection of kits by S.O.S. officers. All the other 
machine-gun outfits of the Division were there. We were praised by 



142 I^isTORV OF Till. 101 sr Maciiim. Gun Battalion 

the inspcctinj; officers for the comijlclencss of our kits and the orderly 
way in whieh they were laid out on the j^round. They said we had the 
best showing on the field. 

MARCH 20. B Co. played baseball with A Co., 102d M. G. Bn., 
and score was 12-10 in favor of A Co. when game called account rain. 
Haskell Mavo, Vermont l)o\- in Hqrs. Co., died in hospital. Five men from 
each company sent to Le Mans to rei^resent the Battalion at the dedica- 
tion of a Y. M. C. A. named the "YD Hut". Acklcy got a little souvenir. 

MARCH 22. Barraek-bags turned in, and i)assenger lists being made 
out in Bn. orderlx-room. Peter Piekel and Da\-e Childers back to C Co. 

MARCH 24. The "Duds" or our "3rd lieutenants" received their 
commissions. Breakfast at 5.45, after which rolled packs and boarded 
trucks at 9. Off to Eccomoy where we entrain at 12.30 in American box- 
cars. Train consists of forty-eight cars with kitchen car attached. Div. 
Hqrs., Hqrs. Troop and M. P. outfits with us. 

MARCH 25. Arrived Brest at 7.30 a. m. Detrained and marched 
over to a big kitclien where they gave us breakfast, after which we marched 
out to the famous camp, Pontcnezen. The baggage was left behind at the 
harbor docks in charge of a detail. Were put in tents having cots and a 
small stove, and issued two blankets in addition to the three we carried, 
so slept wami. Fed at one of the kitchens where the system is wonderful. 
The sergeant in charge says they can feed 2,000 men in twenty-one minutes. 
We have to furnish a detail of one cook and six K. P.'s every twel\-e hours. 

MARCH 26. Cootie inspection and bath. Same efficient system — 
now vou're in and now you're out — presto! 

MARCl I 27. Dr. Hesselgrave and Miss Gary here — .say they go home 
on our shi]). Inspection of kits with usual rai)idily. Hought Bulkeley 
comes back to outfit. A detail of 200 men goes to docks tonight. 

MARCH 28. Detail back at 5 a. m. They have been doing everything, 
from piling wood to digging graves. Fred Wa\- arri\'es. Orders come at 
11 A. M. that we embark at 1 p. m. — then countennanded. Changed our 
French money for American — it seems queer to handle greenbacks again, 
that is, to those who have enough francs to make one dollar. 

MARCH 29. Rain to beat the band, later turning to snow. Another 
detail of 75 men sent out. 

MARCH 30. Up at 4.30. Left c-amj) at 8, and marched to docks at 
Brest. American Red Cross women there gave each man a pair of socks 
full of things such as cookies, chocolate, chewing-gum, cards, and tobacco. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 143 

Soon shook the mud of France from our feet — or part of the mud — and 
boarded a Hghter which took us out into the harbor where we chmbed 
aboard U. S. S. Agamemnon. Hooray! ! Found 102d Inf. and artillery- 
troops on board. Soldiers, 5,800, crew, 1,090, making total of 6,890 persons 
aboard. Were assigned to wire bunks in tiers five deep. No room to stretch. 

MARCH 31. At 12.45 we steamed out of harbor, passing U. S. S. 
Mongolia still at anchor. She has part of our Division aboard. At 2.30 we 
had OUT last sight of France, and were headed for Boston. Sea smooth 
and a "gob" says we ought to have a good trip provided we don't hit a 
mine or an iceberg ! Beans for supper. 

APRIL 1. A bit rotigh and some are actively sick. 102d Band gives 
concert on deck. Movies below. 

APRIL 3. Box-fighting between soldiers and sailors in which Army 
takes five out of six matches. Band concert. Sea calm. 

APRIL 4. Ran into storm. Ship is heaving and so are some of the 
boys. Passed a Belgian relief-ship. 

APRIL 5. Making about 430 miles a day. The Aquitania passed us 
for New York. We have to wait a long time in mess line, and have a reg- 
ular route to travel in order to get to the galley. 

APRIL 6. "Flu" breaks out. 

APRIL 7. Heavy fog, and speed much reduced. At 11 a. m. six sub- 
chasers show up and form three on each side, as an escort of honor. They 
threw oranges and apples at us. At noon fog lifted somewhat, and we 
saw a light-vessel which shrieked a welcome. Next, the shore of the good 
old U. S. hove in sight. Hooray! Boats of all sizes began to come out of 
harbor with whistles blowing and crowded decks. As we entered Boston 
harbor there was an uproar. Every whistle on land and water was tied 
down. The welcome-home boats crowded as close as they could get. Ci- 
vilians cheering, waving, and throwing all kinds of things to eat at us. We 
soon saw a little steamer with a huge sign "Welcome 101st Machine Gun 
Battalion", and our hearts jumped into our throats for we knew that the 
dearest people in all the world were aboard her. We could make out the 
familiar faces of our loved ones and made frantic efiforts to let them see us, 
but it must have been hard to find anyone in that mass of olive-drab. From 
one boat some one shouted through a megaphone, "Is Murphy on board"? 
— a thousand voices answered "Yes"! A vessel let loose hundreds of red, 
white and blue balloons. On the upper deck of the official Boston boat we 
saw the erect figure of a soldier in olive-drab standing at salute. Some- 




]()4lh Artillery Band Serenading Battalion at Marre, IMcuse-Argonne, November, 1918 




101st Maehine Gun Battalion Entertains Elsie Janis and mother at Bois de la Relianne 
near "The Swamp" — Toul June, lillS 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 145 

body yelled, "There's the 'Old Man'," and a roar went up from our decks 
that might have been heard in France. Sure enough, it was our own be- 
loved Commander, Major General Clarence R. Edwards. His Y.D.'s went 
wild at the mere sight of him, and more than one husky, war-hardened 
doughboy's eyes were glistening, and not one of them cared who knew it, 
either. Ever since he had been taken from us at Verdun we had not ceased 
to miss him, and none had ever taken the place he holds in the hearts of 
the officers and men of the Yankee Division. It was his spirit which led 
us on until the final shot was fired. He made the Yankee Division what 
it was — a first-class fighting machine with an esprit de corps equal to that 
of any division in the A. E. F. Thousands of cheering people lined the 
shore and docks, and everywhere were huge welcome signs. Soon we were 
tied up, and some of the men who had relatives on the pier were allowed 
to go down the gang-plank for a moment's meeting. Major Bulkeley was 
there in "civics" and received a welcome from his men who got ashore. 

APRIL 8. Slept aboard last night. Up at 4 a. m. Disembarked at 8. 
Formed in the train-shed from which all civilians had been excluded. The 
Y. M.' C. A., K. of C, and Jewish Welfare gave out more good things to 
eat. The Salvation Army was sending telegrams to home-folks at its own 
expense, and the Red Cross passed out coffee and rolls. At 11 we entrained, 
and then began a triumphal journey to Camp Devens. Everywhere along 
the tracks were crowds waving their hands as we rushed by. The thing 
that pleased us most was the groups of school kids cheering their little 
heads off. They brought back memories of the little French friends we 
had left behind. At one o'clock we arrived at Camp Devens and went 
into steain-heated and electric-lighted barracks which seemed to us the 
height of luxury. 

APRIL 9. Many relatives and friends came crowding in to see us and 
many were the happy reunions. But we could not forget those who did 
not come home with us. 

APRIL 10. Passes were given out, and those who lived not too far 
off were allowed to go home for 72 hours. This was worked by relays. 

APRIL 16. Capt. Moore, Bn. surgeon, and Lt. Cassidy have gone 
home for discharge. Hear that David Blowers, of C Co., died in hospital- 
A number of men, having contracted "flu", went to hospital from the boat. 

APRIL 19. Lts. Tecgarden and Nesbit of C Co., and Fontaine of B 
Co., have gone, and our Southerners and Westerners have been sent off to 
be discharged from other camps nearer their homes. 



146 History ov Tiik lOIsi M aciiink (Ux Battalion 

APRIL 22. Divisional rc\-itnv, and inan\- N'isilors in cam]) to see it. 
A wonderful sight. Gen. Edwards awards a lot of deeorations. Our llags 
are decorated with hattle-streanu^rs on whieh are priiUed the names of all 
our fights. 

APRIL 21. Dr. Miel in eanij^ yesterday. Lc-ft eamp at T.oO .v. M. 
and arrived for parade in Boston at 10. Billeted in Iltnlieultural Hall and 
turned loose until midnight . 

APRH> 25. Clear and eold. Formed u]) for parade. Doe Powell 
sIiowchI u]). Parade started at one o'clock. Boston was a glorious sight 
with its mass of decorations and cheering throtigs. It was some ovation. 
The sailors of the Ai^amcDiiion sa\- Boston outdid New York's celebration 
when ihev brought in the 27th Diw The parade was over at 3.45 and wc 
got back to De\-ens at 7.15. ( )ur Welfare Asso. had a section in the stands. 

APRIL 20. Someone hid the bugles and there was no reveille. 

APRIL 29. Vp at 4.;>(). I'onned at (i.oO and went over to a building 
where we were handed our disc-harges. (u)od-bye to the Anny! Home 
after twenty-one months in aeti\-c> scM-\-iee for most of us I 

APRIL 80. Great parade in Hartford along with 102d Inf. State 
Guard and all militarx' out tits in town form escort of honor. Hartford 
gives us reception we will ne\er forget. At the Capitol building we turned 
over our colors to be kept by the State. Major Westbrook takes our flag 
in. The citv gave ah service men a hnu-lu'on in the drill-shed of the Broad 
Street Annor\-. The final feature for ns was the reception and dance given 
for us at the High School Auditorium by our own Welfare Association. 
This was a great sviccess and made a fitting end of a "perfect da>'". We 
have already begun to wonder how we will manage to settle down to 
civilian life. Bugler, sound taps! 




Verdun 

October, 191 8 

Bv Lifiilciiaiit Harold Aiiiorv 

Narrow streets and empty houses, 
Windows minus every pane, 
Yawning cellars flanked by wrecka.c:e 
Mark the spot where some were slain. 
Crazy stovepipes through the sidewalks 
From the dugouts far below 
Elbowed into bygone parlors, 
That the smoke might nex'er show. 

Shattered signs of bygone business, 
Mas^asins, est a m iiicts. 
Let you know in shell-torn letters 
What they were in other days. 
Narrow streets and em])ty houses. 
Soldiers grouped in two's and three's, 
Not a sign of a civilian — 
War has little need of these. 

So I wandered through the eit>- 
And I slowly climbed the hill. 
Saw the broken old cathedral 
With its altars standing still, 
And I wondered, as I saw it, 
When this world-wide war is done, 
If the French will have the courage 
To come back to old Verdun. 

Then I thought of Vaux and Douamont, 

Of the famous contrc-attaqucs. 

When the French rose up in frenzy. 

Driving all the Prussians back. 

Of the fighting 'round the city. 

Of the biood poured out for France, 

Of the glory of those poilus 

Who took part in that advance. 

Then I knew they'd have the courage 
To restore that shattered place. 
To rebuild the ruined dwellings, 
Lift quick hands and cheerful facc^ 
The spirit which they showed at Douamont 
Would rebuild them one by one — 
Then the French would come in triumi)h 
Once again to old Verdun. 



148 



History of Tin: 101 st Machine Gun Battalion 




Li. vS. Transport Agamemnon 

Entering Boston Harbor with 101st M. G. Bn., 102d Infantry and part of 103rd 

Infantry and 101st Field Artillery. April 7, 1919. 



.■*— .r.*:^^^ 




Review of 2()tli Division at Cam]) Devens, A])ril 22, 1919. 



An Old Billet Town Revisited 

By Hudson Hawley 

I hope Bill Buck, that crabbed old New England supply sergeant, 
reads this piece. I hope Christy, our equally crabbed top, otherwise known 
as the Melancholy Dane, reads it too. I hope that wicked little Harry 
Bracken, our compn'y clerk, reads it — if he can read better by now than 
when he used to make up payrolls. For the orderly-room which was the 
receptacle for the language and tobacco juice of that trio during the dreary 
winter of 1917-1918, has been the scene of a wedding feast. 

Yes-sir; and a classy one at that! I visited that old orderly-room — 
orderly only in Army parlance, save before Skipper Myers' Saturday in- 
spections — not so very long ago. And in front of the cupboard where that 
little cache of private stock was kept, there was a great long table, just 
groaning under its weight of bottled beer. 

Over in the comer, where Brack used to keep that dusty pile of non-up- 
to-date service records, was another table, loaded down with gigantic hams. 
Over in the other comer, where Bill used to putter about among his cloth- 
ing slips and keep his extra shoelaces, was still another table, heaped with 
loaves of bread and fragrant Vosges cheeses. The mantelpiece, once adorned 
with nothing more ornamental than the Field Service Regulations, Young's 
Manual of Military Urology, and the I. D. R., bore bottles of real cham- 
pagne, for the special invites. Real board benches took the place of the 
broken boxes and crates that Christy and Brack used to use for chairs when 
they didn't need 'em for kindling. 

The bedroom off to the side, shared by Bill and Jack O'Neil (though 
how that latter mere duty sergeant worked in on the graft has always been 
a mystery), was transformed into a cloakroom for the expected guests, 
but also harbored a colossal keg of rouge, in case the beer and champagne 
should give out in the midst of the revels. Gone were the straw mattresses, 
the slatted cots, from the middle of the room, and gone the tin hats and 
gas masks from the wall. No mess gear stood on the broad stone window- 
sills; in its place were vases full of artificial flowers. As I looked at it, I 
couldn't help laughing to think of Bill's repeated threat of, "Well, Jack, 
b'jee, it's damn near time we started to p'lice up this place." For the lair 
of Bill and Jack has been policed up at last. 

The reason for all this policing and feasting, I found out on my arrival, 
was the marriage, to be held on the following day, of Claudia, daughter of 
M. Mathieu, the mayor, and a recently repatriated poilu, who owned and 



150 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

worked the neighborin<^ farm. It was to be a state wedding, a ehureh wed- 
ding, one of the social cxxMits of the town. The town in question, it may be 
added here (that really ought to have been up in the lead) , is Mont-les-Neuf- 
chateau; but it might be any other town in the Vosges or Haute-Marne, 
for all its looks and its wedding. All France seems to have the marrying 
mania now; the photographers' show windows are full of pictures of stem 
looking ex-poUu bridegrooins in white gloves and obviously rented black 
suits, and very self-conscious looking brides in heirloom \'eils and things. 
The niairies are doing a land office business, and the cures, poor men, are 
nearly out of breath trying to bless all the couples that come before them. 
It seems that Friend Poilu, before he put that crazy pack on his back, 
slung those two or three canteens across his carcass, superimposed several 
musettes and grabbed his rusty old fusil, promised that if and when he came 
back he would suvemcnt marry Paulette or Jacqueline or Rose-Marie. And 
now, with demobilization going on apace except for the very recent classes, 
he is making as good on his word as he made good at the front. 

Claudia was being married then, but that little family triviality 
didn't prevent my good friend and foiTner landlord, M. Mathieu, from 
shuffling in from the redolent barn adjoining his house, and greeting me 
like a long lost brother. Carefully slipping his aged feet out of his sabots at 
the door step, he led me in, sat me dow^n at the kitchen table in front of that 
mammoth fireplace, and fairly beamed appreciation of the call. Then, all 
of a sudden, he got up. and went into the adjoining bedroom, produced a 
wicked looking whitish bottle from the bottom of the old carven armoire, 
and, putting two glasses on the table, proceeded to pour out some of the 
classiest eau de vie de mirabelle that ever a white man inserted into his face. 

"C'est ton, ncst-cc pasi'" he grinned "Nothing like that do you buy 
in the shops these days ! It is onh' that which one makes oneself — and keeps 
— that is worth anything." 

" There is nothing like that at all in the United States," I told him 
"not in the shops, nor the cafes, at any rate." 

"Yes, I have heard that," he admitted, "but then, you have your wine 
and beer, is it not so'" 

"Not even that," I assured him. "Everything — tous — is defendu!'' 

For answer he waved his old meerschaum pipe over his head. " Mon 
Dieul" he exclaimed, "As bad as that? What will the boys of your Divi- 
sion do ? What will they do ? " 

"From the letters I get from them," I infonncd him. "most of them are 
are planning to come back to France and visit. Probably many of them will 
be here in the spring." 

"That is so," he rejoined. "I have had a letter from your Major, say- 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 151 

ing he would try to be back and visit in the printemps. But I did not know 
it was for that ! ' ' 

"Oh for that and for other reasons too," I hastened to assure him. I 
didn't want to give the Major too much of a black eye, even if he did confine 
me to the village for a good six weeks for taking an AWOL up to Nancy. 
But I want to warn Major Jim that, when he does come back, there will be 
much less eau de vie dc mirahelle in Maire Mathieu's front bedroom. I made 
my call a fairly protracted one. It was awfully cold that day .... 

We talked of French politics, discussing the makeup of the new cham- 
ber. "The men we have in there, at least that we sent from this section, are 
not really republicans," he told me, "not perhaps the kind that we cidtivat- 
eurs would have chosen ordinarily. But it may be that they will govern us 
even better than the anciens. Anyway, let us hope so. 

" I was re-elected maire, as a part of it all. It is not grande chose, but 
still there is plenty of work in it. But it will never be as hard as it was in 
1914, when the Boches were within 30 or 40 kilometers of us to the north 
and east. Then some of our people wanted to go away, fearing the Boche 
was coming; but I advised them not to. And sure enough, then came de 
Castelnau's defense of the Grande Couronne, and the Mame, and the 
Boche never came at all." 

He paused to light his old pipe. Then, "Tell me," he asked, "what be- 
came of Vcscoiiade of yours that was in the room up yonder?" 

I told him how three of the squad, little Billy, the Duke, and Paul had 
all been stmck and killed by the same shell in that wood above Bclleau, in 
the July days of 1918; how Jack Stoddard, the most comical one (next to 
little Billy) had been wounded, but had gone back to the lines again; how 
the other, Jack Hussey, httle Billy's particular bunk-mate, had been more 
badly wounded and went back to the States long before the outfit ; how le 
caporal Charles had become sergent, and would have been sous-lieutenant 
but for the Armistice; and how the little one, I'italien, had been transferred 
to another outfit and we had not heard from him. All of which seemed to 
interest the old gentleman mightily, and his smeared corduroy vest heaved 
with mirth as he reminisced over that mess-kit chicken and champagne 
supper that the squad staged on New Year's Eve, 1918. "They were bons 
gargonsj' he admitted, "and we were ires content to have them chez nous. 
All the rest of my people will tell you so, too. They speak of them often 
when I go out among them." 

At this point Mme. Mathieu clumped in in sabots, wearing that same 
old handkerchief over her head and the same old shawl that she used to 
wear when we went down to borrow her saw to wrestle with that refractory 
green wood that was issued in such meager quantities for billet heating. 



152 History of Tin. IOIst Machine Gun Battalion 

She wa? just as cordial as slic was in the old da\'s, just as solicitous after 
news from "her outfit" as her husl)and, and didn't seem to have grown a 
bit older — I doubt if she could. Then Claudia clumped up, hale and hearty 
and red-cheeked as ain- peasant girl that Rosa Bonheur ever used for a 
model, and later llu' bridegroom-elect, a tall rangy party with a heavv 
moustache and a bit of a limp. Soon the rest of the family clustered around, 
and we were right in the midst of a real old-fashioned reunion. But the 
older scMi, Jacques, of whom they were all so i)rou(l, with his Croix de 
Guerre and Medaille Militaire and all the rest, was far away — still up at 
Chalons, S. O. vS.-ing it, his temi of service not being ov'er. As this was very, 
very late in 1919 I commend it to the consideration of some of our l)rcthren 
of the Division, who were sore as hell because they got out of uniform as 
late as last Ai)ril. 

I found out that the first residence of the sciuad, a dungeon-like room 
in an cU of the house, which had to be reached b\- a very rickety stairway 
going u]) I he outside wall, and on which Rick Gowen darn near broke his 
neck one dark night, and that Alex Zymiski always had trouble in nego- 
tiating, had been definitely closed to boarders, military or otherwise. They 
were using it for a storeroom, it seems, which the>- ought to have used it for, 
instead of wishing us into it in the first place. Our second billet, the decent 
one, that is, seemed to be occui)ied by a \'oung married coui)le. I refrained 
froin trying to visit my old haunts, and locating the exact spot where m>' 
barracks bag lay, between Jack Stoddard's bunk and mine. I ha\-e a pecu- 
liar affection for that spot, because the old bottle of the in(lis])ensil)lc was 
always concealed there during the looey's morning inspection. 

The mayor further told me he was going to buy C Comi)any's old mess- 
shack, lying out in one of the fields, and use it as a barn for his croijs. Other 
fanners in the neighljorhood had bought some of the others for allied uses, 
and more were cxi^ccted to come in. But nobody yet has bid in for the 
showerbalhs, i)ul uj) by ourseh'cs just a week before we left so that we 
didn't get an\- use of them, nor for those awful red barracks which, as I 
recall. Company A of the 101st Engineers perpetrated on the Vosges land- 
scape. We of C were certainly in luck that tho.se edifices were wished otl 
onto B Company, even though we had to take as our .share of the O. 1). 
man's burden "The Cave of the Winds," located just abo\-e our orderl\- 
room, and thoroughl\- li\-ing up to that title and its other, which was "The 
Winter Palace." 

I bid the mayor and his famil\- goodljye for a time, and wandered out 
along the road that leads by one of those alluring fountains marked: 

"This water is the best available, but UNSAFE." 

I shook my fist and thumbed my nose at that fountain. Many a time 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 153 

and oft have I had to dra*^ a G. I. can awa}' from our mess-shack, a good 
200, yards away, there and back, for enough water to boil the spuds or 
dilute the sUuti. Finally, though, we stole a sled from B Company, and 
dragged the G. I. cans and the No. 56 boilers around on that. 

My objective was the old mule-shacks over in the meadows to the 
west of the little town. The fresh young engineer just out of Boston Tech 
who designed them had never taken the measure of a mule when extended, 
so the narrow pathway between the two rows of stalls permitted the mules 
to play hoof ping-pong with whomever was walking No. 4 post, — and No. 4 
was expected to patrol that lane between those two rows of flying sharp- 
shod feet for two hours at a crack, "observing everything that takes place 
within sight or hearing." I remember how we petitioned Whit Tieman, 
the Battalion supply sergeant, to issue football pants to the guard, for the 
exclusive use of No. 4, but that matter-of-fact individual found there was 
no such article in the Q. M.'s sales catalogue. Consequently, w^e had to 
stuff our trou with sweaters, mufflers and wristlets whenever we took over 
the mule-shack patrol. And even then, No. 4, after being relieved, never 
cared much about sitting around the guardhouse. He'd relieve No. 1 and 
stand out in front of there, all the rest of the night — just to be able to stand. 

But the mule-shacks are gone. Though the rains of two years have 
washed the spot on which they stood, yet is the grass still withered and 
sere, and the ground torn by the scraping of many hoofs. It is a sad, sad 
sight, the field about there. Wire, and empty clips, msty nails, parts of 
boxes, clutter up all the surrounding hillside. The old shacks have evi- 
dently gone the wa\^ of all kindling, and the old mules have probably gone 
back to their castles in Spain. I wondered, as I stood there, what had be- 
come of the pair that were named after our two Plattsburgers. 

I took a turn north from the mule-shacks, and followed the short-cut 
that leads to the church and the mairie and what we knew as Headquarters 
Square. The church of Mont, if not the homeliest and coldest in France, is 
all of a piece with those square-rigged, uncompromising churches that dot 
all the northern provinces of France. On entering, I found that St. Nicholas 
was still on guard, even though the Battalion wasn't, and St. Lawrence was 
still going through his perpetual martyrdom in oils, though ]jla\-ing to an 
empty house. And those generous Christmas and New Year's contribu- 
tions of our faithful — and our muster roll reading like the social register of 
the F. I. F.'s — have evidently gone to the poor of the parish. Certainly not 
a sou of them has been blown in on permanent improvements. 

Behind the church I hunted round for the diggings of M. le Cure, a 
wizened little man who preached sermons that sounded like patriotic 
speeches, and who alwa>'s prayed loud and long for his American tran- 



154 History of Tjie 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

sicnt parishioners. But the ])urple-ehccked old lady who keeps house for 
the holy man infonncd me that he had gone to a neighboring hamlet, 
Pagny, she thought, to visit the sick or to bury the dead. As Pagny is a 
good eight kilometers over the Cote de what's-its-name, from which we used 
to drag down the firewood, I decided not to give chase, so, leaving my 
salutations tres (listiiii^iiccs for the good ]3riest, I sallied forth into Head- 
quarters Square. 

But Battalion H. 0., to your left as you face the church, is boarded up, 
apparently for keeps. Its worn stone steps no longer echo and re-echo to 
the clank of the Major's spurs (yes he wore 'em) and the hobnails of or- 
derlies. The cobblestones adjacent no longer bear the brunt of snorting 
sidecars and that dinky little ambulance which, for months on end, was all 
the motor transportation we had. Its main use seemed to be to take a non- 
French-speaking mess sergeant around by day for a tour of the outlying 
farms, and to bring the officers back from the Lafayette Club in Neuf- 
chateau on Saturday nights. Oh, yes, come to think of it, it once was used 
for an enlisted men's joy-ride; but soon after, a number of our brethren 
were seen going around with bare patches between their right elbows and 
shoulders, and also putting in a belated appearance on K. P. Later, though, 
when the Major got that Ford for his own use — 

But I digress. I promised Pip Johnston and Brack I wouldn't give 'em 
away. As, back in Massachusetts, one of 'em is working for the Major 
now, I'd better be careful. As I recall, he swore he'd lynch the guy that 
did it. 

I was startled to hear a window shutter come banging open on the 
right side of the square, and to see a lady's head protruding into the dank 
autumn atmosphere. It turned out to be Mme. Llnstitutrice, who smiled 
down a cheery greeting and said she was sorry she'd got to keep the urchins 
in school till 4 o'clock, but after that would I come up and take tea with her 
and her husband. I thanked her, but told her it was getting dark, and I had 
got to make my way back to the big town on foot, so I had better be on my 
way by 4. "If you sec or write to any of the officers to whom I taught 
French," she asked me, in saying good-bye, "please remember me to them." 
As I am not apt to see them for some time to come, the remembrances are 
hereby forwarded, for the information and guidance of all concerned. 

Having had about enough of Church, State, Education and the Mili- 
tary, I crossed the road to look over the Department of Amusements. It 
begins with the Cafe du Centre at the top of the hill, then jumps to the 
Cafe Mage about half-wa\- down, and ends with the Cafe Courtois, run by 
One-E^^ed Pete, the robber, at the bottom of the rue which breasts the in- 
cline. Deciding to take them on in chronological order, I started into the 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 155 

Centre. It was the nearest, and anyway, the effect of that eau de vie de 
mirabelle was beginning to wear off. 

Bare, dark, and dead was the Centre's big front room, damp and musty 
and forlorn. I have seen two whole platoons holding forth in that room on 
a payday night, with a sprinkling of poilus, aged farmers and now and 
then a sauntering guard (that was before the days of organized M. P.'s), 
thrown in for seasoning. The picture of Papa Joffre and the sollenel engrav- 
ing of Rouget de ITsle singing the Marseillaise — the "Custer's Last Stand" 
of French cafes, — smuged and disconsolate, looked hstlcssly down from the 
walls. Nothing daunted, I pushed on through the encircling gloom to the 
inner sanctuary, where star customers alone were served, and where some- 
times, when the picking was good, "oofs frites" could be had, if you 
brought your own bread. 

"Tante" was there, and recognized me at once. "Tante" is so-called 
because she is the aunt of Marie-Louise, the dark-eyed Diana who, aided 
by her 12-year-old cousin Marcel, played Madelon to the thirsty machine- 
gunners. " Tiens!" she whistled — Tante has a hair-lip — "one of our Ameri- 
cans! Good-day, good-day! Comment ga va?'' 

I told her it went very well, asked after her health in turn, and shook 
the lean old hand which she offered me. Then, naturally, I inquired: 

"And what has become of Marie-Louise?" 

"She has gone back to Paris, to live with her parents," she told me. 
(Thunder, and I had only left Paris four days before ! Always my luck !) . 
"You know, she only came down to help me while the war was on, while the 
Americans were here. Then, as you know, it was ires mouvemente. Now no 
one seems to drink any more." 

I passed over in silence that touching tribute to my Battalion's re- 
doubtable capacity. Tante sighed, and went on: 

"You may have heard, Marie-Louise married a sergeant who was in 
the bakery school down at Neufchateau." I hadn't, and was duly shocked. 
" Tons les jours she expects word from him, but he has sailed, evidemment, 
for la-bas, and no letter comes. The poor one, she does not know what to 
do." 

" It is damage," I assured her, in my most downright French. And it is; 
any guy who would run off and leave a girl as nice as Marie-Louise is a 
skunk — so there! Ask any member of Cos. B, C and D, 101st M. G. Bn., 
A. E. F., and the detachments appertaining thereto. If that sergeant ever 
shows up around Hartford or New Haven way, he will have to do some tall 
explaining. But shucks! I forgot to ask Tante for his name. Anyway 
probably she can't pronounce it, so what's the use? 

Then, just as I was casting about to change the subject, Tante asked 



156 IIisioRV OF 'rill'. lOlsr Maciiixk Gi\ Battalion 

mc if I wouldn't ha\-c' a drink. I ne\-cr refuse a lady, of course, and scjon was 
on the outside of the major ])ortion of a rlium chaud. It gets awfully cold in 
the Vosges along in the afternoon, you know. As I was preparing to take 
another whack at the delectable, in came Cirandmere, that nice old lady 
with a wrinkled skin like a frost-bitten apple, one of those rare old Lorraine 
lace caps over her head, her spectacles perched on her brow, just as of yore. 
It took her some time to adjust that double periscoi)e so as to take me in 
and place me — Grandmere's sight is two years older than when she used to 
rock with mirth over in the chimney comer, while Joe Clark recited "The 
Shooting of Dan Magrue" — but once she got the range and elevation, she 
opened-three-divisions-right of ancient yellow teeth, and beamed a wel- 
come on me. 

"Where is the lit lie one who used to sing so well'" she inquired. Off- 
hand, I su])i)()sed she meant Johnny Costello, who was ])romoted from mule- 
shoer to cook after the annistice, and farried doughnuts, world without end, 
\\r\\\\ his last day in the service. Anyway, if it wasn't Johnny she was after 
meanin', I assiuvd her that he carried himself ver\- well. The only other 
little one who used to sing at all well was myself, if I do say it. 

I was to l)e identified in another fashion than that, it appears. Just 
then in walked Marcel, now a strapjjing youth of 14. rounded out in every 
wav and far too big to roughhouse with impunity, as we used to when he 
came sidling up to the old b(\ard benches in the outer room. Marcel, who 
was all in O. D., owrseas hat (earlier model) weirdly wound s])irals and all, 
didn't recognize me at ilrst, and his " hoii-joiir, m'sicit' " was a bit formal. 
But Tante supplied thc^ blank l)y remarking, " riciis. mo)i petit: is it that 
\-ou do not recognize the Dioiisicitr who alwaws used to ask for whisky and 
hot water?" Then Marcel brightened up percept i])l\-, knew he was facing 
no stranger, and before I left was even chumm\', though a bit sh}-. 

My next port of call was the Mage, but as Old Man Mage has ap- 
parently not bathed since the outfit left, and his ceilings arc low and his 
doors tight-shiU and his windows ditto and his stox'c red-hot, I stayed just 
long enouth to let him do the honors, which, in marked contrast to his 
fomier habits, he most certainly did. His am])le lad_\--fair came beaming 
and bustling out of the kitchen to greet me, wanted nie to stay the night, 
and make myself at home; but no. Feeling the need of a little air, I made 
for the third and last port of call, the Court ois only to find it in the hands of 
strangers. One-Eyed Pete, whose real name was Pierre Courtois, had gone. 
The latter-day proprietress infomied me that he was in Paris. If he is. it is 
billions to l)uckwheats he is a ])ractising Ai)ache. I hoi)e I don't meet him 
there. 

It was getting dark and cold and raw wlien 1 got out on the road again, 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 157 

and my decision to hike it back over the old road to the Big Town in the 
gathering drizzle that was just beginning to develop into a good husky rain, 
shrunk quite a little in its determination. Fortunately, the baker's wagon, 
having delivered its daily dole of horse-shoe shaped loaves to the Httle 
village, was on the point of starting back again to Neufchateau, and for a 
franc I got a seat on the box. 

Maire Mathieu, who was puttering around to see about the bread for 
the wedding, which was to come off on the morrow, was on hand to wave 
me farewell. '' Presentez mes sentiments les plus cord i ales a tons vos amis de 
rAmerique," he called after me. I assured him I would remember him to 
everyone, waved again, and with a mighty ''Gee! Allez-oup-la-!''' from the 
baker's assistant, we were off. 

But there was one thing I missed, in that delightful day of hob-nob- 
bing with old neighbors. Not the cattle who used to come up and jostle us 
while we were trying to shave by the big fountain in the main square. They 
were there, even though there were no Yanks to jostle. Not the old ladies 
industriously beating the dirt out of the linge in the public washing-place. 
They were there there too, even though their clothes-baskets bore no O.D. 
shirts,' socks, wool, heavy, nor Red Cross bellybands. No; the one thing 
I missed was that all the time I was there, not one of my former friends 
killed a pig out in the street, and let the blood run down the gutter. And a 
billet town in France where there isn't at least one pig-sticking in a day is a 
sad billet town indeed ! 




']-'k "? 




►^ 



:■> 1 



A^ 




(J 




r,-\^ya^^y^- 



*>c-a 




u 



Roster 

April, I 9 19 

:\Iajor StillMan F. Westbrook, Commanding 



HEADQUARTERS COMPANY 

1st Lt C. F. Comey, Adjutant 1st Lt C. A. Pellett, Supply Officer 

1st Lt Earl Taggart, Chaplain 



Pvt Icl Atherton, R. E. 

Sgt Bracken, Harrison C. 
Pvt Clark. A. F. 
Wag Clark, F. J. 
Sgt Maj Dennis, R. G. 
Pvt Folsoni, F. L. 
Pvt Griswold, P. L. 
Pvt Henry. H. H. 
Wag Hull, William 



Pvt James, D. A. 
Cook Kipp, J. P. 
Pvt MacAskill, Malcolm 
Pvt McDonakl, Donald 
Wag McCann, H. E. 
Menard, W. W. 
Millard, C. B. 
Nash, D. O. 
Pvt Icl Neiburg, S. C. 



Cpl Newman, Albert 
Pvt Icl Phillips, J. R. 
Pvt Pickel, Peter 
Pvt Robeits, John 
Wag Smith, H. E. 
Sgt Maj Smith, U. W. 
Pvt Turcotte, A. L. 
Sgt Williams, G. A. 



Pvt Janet, A. S. 



Pvt Icl Crompton, H. J. 
Crossland, E. A. 
Pvt Denison, E. B. 



ORDNANCE DETACHMENT 

.Sgt North, D. M. 

SANITARY DETACHMENT 

Capt Luman G. Moore, M. C, Surgeon 

Pvt Icl IngersoU, C. T. 

Sgt Icl Kenefick, E. J. 

Pvt Levin, H. B. 



Pvt Sullivan, J. W. 



Sgt Ratenburg, Heibert 
Pvt Icl Tele&ca, A. W. 



COMPANY B 

Capt H. W. Mills 



1st Lt P. S. W'ainwright 
1st Lt Harold Amory 
2d Lt H. L. Fontaine 
2d Lt C. G. Shepard 



Pvt 
Pvt 
Pvt 

Bglr 

Wag 

Bglr 

Cook 

Pvt 

Wag 
Pvt 
Pvt 

Wag 
Pvt 
Pvt 
Pvt 
Pvt Icl 
Pvt 

Wag 
Pvt 
Pvt 
Pvt 

Cook 
Pvt 
Pvt 
Sgt 
Pvt 
Pvt Icl 
Cpl 



Adkins, G. A. 
Agrifolio, Louis 
Anair, C. E. 
Aninger, F. T. 
Arnold, W. H. 
Austin, R. E. 
Ball, D. T. 
Ballard, C. C. 
Bandy, A. W. 
Barbour, C. T. 
Baril, A. A. 
Barlow, A. A. 
Barratt. G. R. 
Barrella, Anthony 
Beach. H. A. 
Bell, C. A. 
Bianchi. M. A. 
Bicknell, L. B. 
Biddle, Geary 
Bitner, A. A. 
Blume, Harry 
Boedicker, J. J. 
Bostater, S. P. 
Bostow, Harry 
Bourn, B. A. 
Breeze, John 
Brewer, T. W. 
Brickley, H. J. 



2d Lt A. S. Gray 

2d Lt Houghton Bulkeley 

2d Lt F. L. Way 



Cpl 
Sgt 
Pvt 

Wag 

Wag 
Cpl 
Pvt 
Pvt 
Cpl 
Pvt 
Pvt 
Pvt 
Pvt 

Wag 
Sgt 
Pvt 
Pvt 
Pvt 

Wag 
Pvt 
Wag 
Cpl 
Pvt Icl 
Pvt 

Mech 

Pvt Icl 

Ptv 

Pvt 



Briggs, Garold 
Bruemmer, H. J. 
Bryant, S. J. 
Buckman, A. S. 
Burden, William 
Burnham, G. D. 
Butler, H. G. 
Calastro, Antonio 
Camobell, H. S. 
Casazza, Gerolamo 
Cassidy, Leo 
Cassinelli, Eugenio 
Cetner, S. D. 
Champion, E. W. 
Chandler, H. N. 
Clapp, F. B. 
Click, S. R. 
Combs, A. J. 
Corcoran, J. J. 
Icl Crane, W. J. 
Daniels, L. R. 
Day, G. M. 
Dean, L. E. 
Decator, Martin 
Dexheimer, M. R. 
Drager, E. O. 
Eggleston, L. C. 
Faikowski, Frank 



Pvt Icl 

Pvt 

Pvt Icl 

Pvt 

Pvt Icl 

Pvt Icl 

Pvt 

Pvt 

Pvt 

Pvt Icl 

Pvt 

Wag 

Pvt Icl 

Pvt 

Wag 

Pvt 

Pvt Icl 

Pvt 

Pvt 

Pvt Icl 

Cpl 

Cpl 

Pvt Icl 

Pvt 

Pvt 

Sup Sgt 

Sgt 

Cpl 



Falls, W. S. 
Ferris, Fred 
Flottman, William 
Floyd, J. I. 
Foley, J. J. 
Fothergill, J. J. 
Fought, J. P. 
Gasinski, Stanislau 
Gates, S. T. 
Gladwin, W. H. 
Golden, C. H. 
Goodwin, H. R. 
Gorse, H. J. 
Gott, Evan 
Gowdy, E. H. 
Gray, W. H. 

Grossklaus. F. 

Hacker, A. A. 

Hall, A. G. 

Hall, G. H. 

Hall. W. R. 

Halvorsen. C. _ . 

Hammerslough, P. H. 

Harmon. J. J. 

Harriell, T. L. 

Harrington, E. V. 

Hart, E. H. 

Hart, W. H. 



F. J. 



E. 



160 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



Sgt 

Lst S^t 
I'vt 
I'vt 
Pvt 

J'vt Id 
Cpl 

Pvt Icl 
Cpl 

Pvt Irl 
Cpl 
I'vt 
I'vt 

I'vt 1(1 
\Va« 
I'vt 

Pvt Icl 
Pvt 

Pvt Icl 

Pvt 1(1 

Wat; 

Sfit 

Pvt 

Pvt Icl 
Cook 



Heron. John 
Hill, C. B. 
Hodgkiiis, W. C. 
.lacol), A. H. 
.larvis. C. H. 
.Idliiison, Arthur 
.Iolms(jii, H(>rbort 
J ones, A. N. 
Jones, R. L. 
Jovnt, J. D. 
Ki'lley, J. T. 
Kii'vit, William 
Kingsbury, N. L. 
Kjellereii. C. A. 
Lamb, V. DeP. 
Laiidusky, John 
Lawson, C. W. 
Lawson, J. M. 
Manion, J. F. 
MaiiniiiK. E. J. 
Matthews, C. O. 
Maun. H. J. 
May, G. L. W. 
McCann, A. E. 
McVeigh, P. F. 



Pvt Icl Morrow, O. W. 


Mess Sgt Schuman. Paul 


Cpl Mid, C. J. 


Pvt Shelley, W. H. 


Pvt Miller. J. H 


Pvt Smith, R. T. 


Pvt M(jrrell, R. G. 


Pvt Id Stephenson, E. C. 


Pvt Id Morrill, N. L. 


Pvt Icl Stoughton. A. G. 


SKt Ndson, R. N. 


Cpl Stratton, R. C. 


Pvt Icl Ortgies, J. A. 


Pvt Swift, J. G. 


Pvt Parise, Antonio 


Mech Tefft, L. S. 


Pvt Parker, A. F. 


Pvt Tiede, E. C. 


Sgt Parker. R. M. 


Cpl Tilton, A. V. R. 


Cpl Parsons, J. A. 


Pvt Tirdli, C. F. 


Wag Parsons. R. W. 


Pvt Id Usher, C. A. 


Wag I'cnfidd. E. A. 


Wag Van Schaack, Bulkeley 


Wag Perkins, B. C. 


Pvt Venizia, Giuseppe 


Pvt Pierce, A. J. 


Pvt Wade, W. E. 


Pvt Icl Relvea. W. A. 


Pvt Icl Wadsworth, F. C. 


Pvt Id Rhea, D. H. 


Pvt Walters, E. L. 


Pvt Icl Risso, Giuseppe 


Pvt Wellauer. Walter 


Sgt Rogers. Erie 


Pvt Wendt. E. G. 


Pvt Icl Rucker, Richmond 


Pvt Id White. J. A. 


Pvt Sancyzk, Stefan 


Pvt Williams, Edward 


Pvt Icl Sargent, H. L. 


.'^gt Williams. H. G. 


Pvt Icl Sather, Einer 


Sgt Williams. P. H. 


Wag Schade, A. T. 


Pvt Yenco, Antonio 



COMPANY C 

Capt R. W. Myers 



1st Lt C. J. Sandberg 
1st Lt J. H. Agnew 
2d Lt J. E, Cassidy 

Sgt Ackley. G. C. 

Pvt Adams, H. J. 

Pvt Albee, A. W, 

Pvt Alfano, Dominic 

Cpl Allen, Elton M. 

Cpl Alton, E. E. 

Pvt Amann, H. A. 

Pvt Anderson. O. R. 
Pvt Icl Annis, E. M. 

Pvt Arnold, G. B. 

Pvt Baker. R, D. 

Wag Barnes, E. B. 

Pvt Id Barnes, G. H. 

Pvt Beach, L. W. . 

Pvt Berry, M. A. 
Pvt Id Blease, D. A. 

Pvt Blowers, D. A. 

Pvt Boccaccino. Louis 

Cpl Bohman, C. W. 

Pvt Bowers. W. H. 
Pvt Id Bradbury. L. C. 

Bglr Bradley, L. C. 
Wag Brann, H. A. 

^ill Brcnnan. J. H. 
Pvt Id Brewer. W. F. 

I'vt Brodskv. Harrv 
I'vt Id Brooks; W. H." 

Cpl Burke. T. F 

I'vt Hiniiham. Hadlev 
Medi Burnham. H. F. ' 

I'vt Bvrncs, G. F. 

I'vt Caldara, W. V. 

Pvt Caraccio. Antonio 

Pvt Carlson. J. F. 

Pvt Cassidy. W. P. 

I'vt Cervone. Anthony 
I'vt Id Chanibers. T. H. 

Cl)l Chambers, W. E. 

Pvt Chew. M. L. 

Pvt Childers, D. A. 

Pvt Cimmincllo, Constantino 

Cpl Clark, E. C. 

VVafi Clark. J. F. 
I'M Id Coleman. J. A. 

I'vt Coinbe. H. C. 

St;t C.H.ierford. J. F. 

Cpl Coiinollv. H. M. 



2d r>t K. R. Nisbet 

2d Lt W. H. Teegarden 

2d Lt M. W. Scoville 



Mech 

Pvt Icl 

Cook 

Pvt 

Pvt 

Cpl 

Pvt Icl 

Pvt 

Pvt Icl 

Wag 

Pvt 

Pvt 

Pvt 

Pvt 

Pvt 

Pvt 

Cpl 

Wag 

Wag 

Pvt 

Pvt 

Pvt Id 

Pvt Icl 

Wag 

Pvt 

Pvt 

Pvt 

Pvt 

Sgt 

Pvt 

Cook 

Sgt 

Mess Sgt 

Wag 

I'vt Id 

I'vt 

I'vt 

I'vt 

Cpl 

Pvt 

Cook 

Wag 

Pvt 

1st Sgt 

Pvt Id 

Cpl 

Pvt Id 



Cormier. G. A. 
Costello, E. F. 
Costello, J. J. 
Cota. A. E. 
Cota. J. W. 
Couch, F. A, 
Couch. W. J. 
Coulter, B. M. 
Crafts. B. W. 
Cressey, E. O. 
Crevier, T. D. 
Cross, J. F. 
Dempsey, E. L. 
DiFranco, Carmelo 
Distifano. Antonio 
Donovan. N. M. 
Elliott. G. A. 
Evans. Clayton 
Fabrvk, T. J 
Farrar, DeF. H. 
Ferguson, B. J. 
Forant, W. A. 
Fox, E. S. 
Gardner. M. S. 
Gavnor. M. H. 
Gedan. T. A 
Oervaise, C. J. 
Ciiles. M. M. 
Cilenney, G. W. 
Goranson. A W. 
Gould, P. L. 
Gowen, G. R. 
Graff. B. P. 
Gustetter. R. H. 
Halvosa, H. W. 
Harrington. J. L. 
Ileilig. V. U. 
Ilinslev, E. J. 
Hoey.G. H. 
Horowitz, J. P. 
Hutchinson. E. L. 
Hyde, H. H. 
Hyman. Isidor 
.lolmston, E. J. 
Kashman, M. H. 
Kearnev. J. W. 
Keen. F. G. 



Pvt 
Wag 
Pvt 
Pvt 
Pvt 
Pvt Icl 
Sgt 
Pvt 
Pvt 
Pvt 

Pn 

Pvt 

Pvt Id 

Pvt 

Pvt 

Cpl 

Cpl 

Pvt 

Pvt Id 

Pvt Icl 

Pvt Icl 

Pvt 

Cook 

Pvt Id 

Cpl 

Sgt 

Wag 

Pvt 

Sgt 

Pvt Id 

Pvt 

Sgt 

Pvt 

Pvt 

Pvt 

Sgt 

Wag 

Pvt 

Wag 

Pvt 

Pvt 

Pvt Id 

Pvt 

Wag 

Pvt Icl 

Cpl 

Pvt 



Kilby, Albert 
Kitson, E. S. 
Klein. P. F. 
LafRn. H. G. 
Lanciault, O. E. 
LaRock. E. L. 
Lask, A. R. 
Lenzi. A. C. 
Littlefield. W. C. 
Long. A. J. 
Lower, W. J. 
Lowery, G. T. 
Lvman. L. R. 
MacDonald, H. J. 
Manchester, William 
McEIwain, L. K. 
McGinn, G. J. 
Mcintosh, W. B. 
Menegat, Richard 
Miles. F. A. 
Miller, O. M. 
Miller, W. A. 
Mohr, E. W. 
Murphy, F. E. 
Neekl. L. B. 
Nielsen. A. A. 
Nolan, J H. 
Oliver. William 
O'Neil, J W. 
O'Ndl. W. J 
Pawloski, Benjanuii 
Pearson, C. C. 
Pollion, W. A. 
Rabb, L. L. 
Reagan, S. W. 
Reichard, F. W. 
Ridddl. J. B. 
Roark, J. C. 
Ro.ssing. Albert 
Rowley, C. A. 
Sawyer, Chester 
Sduiltz, .\. J 
.Schultz. M. J. 
Scoville, VV. W. 
Seaver, J. L. 
Sechtman, Iv. VV. 
Seward, H. D. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



161 



Pvt Silvestri, Concezio 


Pvt Thaver, G. D. 


Pvt Simpson, J. T. 


Pvt Thomas, W. E. 


Sgt Smith, H. N. 


Pvt Thonin, Hector 


Wech Smith, W. S. 


Sgt Thornton, Samuel 


Pvt Snipes, A. M. 


Sgt Tiger, E. S. 


Pvt Stearns, T. E. 


Sgt Tracy, L. S. 


Sgt Stoddard, J. R. 


Sgt Trumble, H. E. 


'vt Icl Strickland, S. H. 


Pvt Tutas, Gust 


Cpl Swan, C. P. 


Pvt Urechena, Aleack 


Sgt Sweeney, W. J. 


Pvt Icl Waldo, C. E. 



Sgt Ward, C. J. 
Pvt Icl Ward, G. W. 
Wag Weill, R. A. 
Cpl Whitney, T. E. 
Wag Willard, H. C. 
Pvt Icl Woodard, A. E. 
Wag Woodmancy, L. A. 
Pvt Zeigler, M. G. 
Cook Zymiski, Alexander 



2d Lt C. L. Allen 
2d Lt G. H. Berlin 
2d Lt H. A. Brown 



Casual Officers Attached to Battalion Headquarters 



2d Lt J. A. S. Durston 
2d Lt L. H. Hansel 
2d Lt R. D. Heymann 



2d Lt H. C. Noyes 
2d Lt L. J. Parker 
2d Lt R. K. Skinner 



162 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




^^r^.'-w 



Ccimi)any B 



YYy'p*'^! ^ru 







Company C 
Welcome Home Parade, Hartford, April ;iO, H)19 



Individual Records 

Compiled by the Editors 



Explanatory Note 



That the reader may understand clearly the following records of individual members 
of the Command a brief explanation is necessary: 

Dates of birth, occupation at time of enlistment, dates of draft or enlistment, pro- 
motions, transfers, wounds, hospital treatment, participation in front-line sectors, return 
to the United States, discharge, former service in other organizations, and other informa- 
tion show the important changes in each man's military life. 

Addresses are as nearly up to date as they can be made and we have tried to give 
those that are likely to be permanent, and to provide a correct forwarding address that 
may be good for some time to come. In view of the fact that many of our men are fre- 
quently moving from one place to another, some of the addresses here given are those of 
their family residences which are not so likely to change. 

To avoid repetition, no date is given in the case of that part of the personnel which 
returned to the United States and was discharged with the Battalion. The transfer of 
men of the 1st Vermont Infantry to the Battalion is not noted, since they were all received 
on the same day, August 27, 1917, having arrived at Niantic August 25. 

Sectors in which a man served are shown as, ''Chemin des Dames, Toul," etc., and 
in those instances where he was present in all except one or two it is written, " All sectors 
ex. Chemin des Dames." When a soldier has been in sectors with other units his record 
will show this when it is remembered that the sectors occupied by the Battalion were 
Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry, St. Mihiel, and the Meuse-Argonne. The 
first two were defensive sectors and the others were major operations. Under "Chateau- 
Thierry " we include the operations known officially as the Champagne- Marne Defensive 
and the Aisne-Mame Offensive. Casualties shown as occurring "north of Chateau- 
Thierry" took place in the neighborhood of Trugny and Epieds around July 22 and in 
the Fere Wood on July 2.5. Those mentioned as at "Verdun" practically all happened 
while the Battalion was engaged in delivering barrage-fire at Brabant Woods during the 
Meuse-Argonne Offensive. 

When hospital dates are given, and no mention is made of later change, it indicates 
that the man returned to the Battalion after recovery. 

In the cases of men who were received as replacements the camps in which they were 
trained in the United States are noted. These men were usually held in training camps in 
the S.O.S., after arrival in France, until they were needed to replace casualties among the 
troops at the Front. 

Arm}'' candidate schools, such as those at Langres and La Valbonne, were established 
to train enlisted men for commissions. Candidates were usually appointed second lieu- 
tenants on being graduated at the end of a three month's course. Corps schools at Gon- 
drecourt, Ch^tillon and Clamecy gave officers and non-commissioned officers instruc- 
tion in the latest methods developed by the Allies, and the courses usually lasted four 
weeks. Schools of all the various branches of the service were in operation. After the 
armistice the A. E. F. University at Beaune was opened and a number of men were sent 
to universities of France and England where they could pursue non-military studies. 

The Editor. 



164 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



List of Abbreviations 



Acad Academy 

Actg Acting 

Adj Adjutant 

Adv. Sec Advance Section 

Amb Ambulance 

A. R. C American Red Cross 

Arg Argonne 

Army of Occ. . . . Army of Occupation 

Arr Arrived 

Art Artillery 

Asst Assistant 

Bglr Bugler 

Bn Battalion 

Brig Brigade 

Cand. sch Candidate School 

Capt Captain 

Cav Cavalry 

Ch Chief 

Clk Clerk 

C. N. G Connecticut National Guard 

Co Company 

Col Colonel 

Coll College 

Comm'd Commissioned 

C. of S Chief of Stall" 

Cp Camp 

Cpl Corporal 

C. R. O Central Records Oflicc 

D. C Dental Corps 

Def Defensive 

Dent Dental 

Dep. Div Depot Division 

Dept Department 

Det Detachment 

Det. Ser Detached Service 

Dft Drafted 

Dis I )ischarged 

Div Division 

D. S. C Distinguished Service Cross 

Empl Employed 

Engrs Engineers 

Enl Enlisted 

Ex Except 

Fd Field 

Fr France 

Gen General 

G. H. Q General I leadquarlers 

Hosp Hospit;.! 

Htfd Hartford 

Hqrs Headquarters 

Hy Heavy 



Inf Infantry 

Insp Insyjcctor 

Inslr Instructor 

K. P Kitchen Police 

Lab Laboratory 

L. Cpl I-ance Corporal 

Lt Lieutenant 

Maj Major 

Mech Mechanic 

Med Medical 

Messgr Messenger 

Mex Mexican 

M. G Machine Gun. 

Mgr Manager 

Milil Military 

Mob.Ordn.Rep. Mobile Ordnance Repair 

N. C. O Non-commissioned Officer 

Off Office 

Ordn Ordnance 

Pvt. Icl Private, 1st Class 

P. \V. E Prisoner of War Escort 

Q. M Quartermaster 

Regt Regiment 

Res Reserve 

Ret Returned 

R. O. T. C Reserve Officers Training Corps 

S. A Small arms 

Sanit Sanitary 

Sch School 

Sec Secretary 

Sep Sejiarate 

Ser Service 

Sgl Sergeant 

Sgt. Maj Sergeant Major 

Sig Signal 

Sk Sick 

S. O. S Service of Supplies 

Spec Special 

Sp. Tr. Bn Special Training Battalion 

Sqdn Squadron 

Surg Surgeon 

Tp Troop 

Tr Trained, Training 

Trans Transferred 

Univ University 

Wag Wagoner 

W. D War Department 





HEADQUARTERS COMPANY 

Private Haskell Mayo, Jr. 

Born July 25, 1893. Farmer. Enl. April, 1917, Co. C, 
1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Trans, to Bn. at Niantic 
Aug. 27, 1917, and assigned Hqrs. Co. All sectors. 
Detached service with 101st Supply Train, 1st Army 
Hqrs., Souilly, Nov. 24, 1918 to Jan. 10, 1919. Died of 
pneumonia in hospital, Le Mans, Mar. 20, 1919. Buried 
U. S. Army cemetery, Le Mans. Body was returned to 
U. S. and buried at East Franklin, Vt., Aug. 21, 1920. 
Nearest kin: Haskell Mayo (father) Bakersfield, Vt. 




COMPANY B 

Private Wallace Holmes Brown 

Bom May 25, 1895. Teller, East Hartford Trust Co. 
Enl., Niantic Aug. 27, 1917. Developed pneumonia at 
Borden, Eng., Oct. 23. Sent to British Hosp., Frensham 
Hill, where he died Nov. 21, 1917. Buried in British 
cemetery, Borden. Body was returned to U. S. and 
bviried Aug. 16, 1920, Spring Grove Cem., Hartford. 
Nearest kin: Mrs. Emma H. Brown {mother), 11 Olm- 
sted St., East Hartford, Conn. 



Private Garland Van Cole 

Born Mar. 9, 1895. Quartermaster, merchant marine. 
Entered service at Ft. Slocum, May 10, 1918. Trained, 
Cp. Hancock, Ga. and Mayet, France. Arrived, France 
Aug. 8; joined Bn. in Foret d'Amblonville Sept. 8, 1918. 
St. Mihiel, Troyon and Meuse-Argonne. Left Bn., 
Mansigne, Mar. 4 for hospital at Le Mans, where he died 
of pneumonia, Mar. 22, 1919. Buried, U. S. Army 
cemetery, Le Mans. Body was returned to U. S. and 
buried Aug. 28, 1920, Riverside Cem., Cape Vincent. 
Nearest kin: George A. Cole (father) Cape Vincent, N. Y. 



166 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




^ 




Private Louis Francis Hart 

Born July 8, 1895. Asst. cashier, Hartford Electric 
Light Co. Entered Service May 1, 1918, and trained at 

Caiiip Hancock. Ga., .3()Ist M. G. Bn. Promoted to sergeant in this unit 
and automatically reduced to private in order to be sent to the Front 
in France. .\rrived,Le Havre, .\ug. (i, lOlSaiid joined lin. at Foretd'Amb- 
lonville Sept. 9. St. Mihiel, Troyon, .McUM-.Vrgonne Killed by shell- 
fire near Houppy Bois Oct. 26, 191S. Was buriiMl where he fell and later 
removed to U. S. Cemetery, Romagne-sou.s-Montfauc on. Body was 
returned to U. S. and buried, Mt. St. Bencaict ('cm Hartford, Aug. 27, 
1021. Cited War Dept. orders Apr. 4, 1!(21 : " I'or f^allantrv in action in 
the Houppy Bois, north of Verdun, France. O.IoIhi l'C. I'.lis. Fvt. Hart 
volunteered to acconipanj- a runner on a <hiM';ii.Hi^ II ii»i. Ill of delivering 
a nL<'ssaKe from his company to his battalion cuniinaiKlcr. Shortly after 
starting they encountered a heavy barrage, but pushed on to accom- 
plish their mission. In the performance of this act Private Hart was 
mortally wounded." By order of the Secretary of War: 
Peyton C. M.^kch, 

Major General, Chief of Staff. 
Nearest kin: Mr. and Mrs. William H. Hart (parents), 64 Brownell 
Ave., Hartford, Conn. 

Private Ralph Lee Henry 

Born Mar. 18, 1894. Attendant, State Ho.sp., Water- 
l)ury, Vt. Enl. Co. C, 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen, 
June 18, 1917. Tran.sferred to Hqrs. Co. of the Bat- 
talion, Niantic Aug. 27. Transferred to Co. B Apr. 1, 
1918. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Champagne-Marne 
and x^isne-Marne. Killed by shell-fire near Sacerie Farm 
north of Chateau-Thierry July 22, 1918. Buried where 
he fell and later removed to U. S. cemetery, Seringes-et- 
Nesles. Ncaresl kin: Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Henry (par- 
ents), North Fayston, 17. 

Private Paul Kimberly Lambert 

Born Mar. 19, 18!)9. Student, Cheshire Academy. 
Enl. Aug. 23, 1917, Co. B, 101st M. G. Bn. at Niantic. 
All Sectors. Wounded by a shell during barrage fire of 
Bn. at Brabant Woods, north of Verdun, Oct. 23, 1918, 
and died before reaching field hospital. Buried near 
Samogneux and later removed to U. S. Army cemetery, 
Romagne-sous-Montfaucon. Nearest kin: Mrs. John 
R. Laniberl (mother), Glastonhnry, Conn. 

Wagoner John Joseph McCann 

Born May 10, 1893. Insurance collector. Enl. Nian- 
tic Aug. 23, 1917. Wag., Mar. 1, 1918. All sectors. 
Gassed in Meuse-Argonne Ofifensive, north of Verdun, 
Oct. 27. Sent to 101st Field Hosp Dec. 5, where he died 
of pneumonia on Dec. 11, 1918. Bviried at Montigny-le- 
Roi. Was assistant manager, Battalion baseball team. 
Played on Co. football team. Brother of Arthur E. 
McCann of Co. B. Nearest kin: Mr. and Mrs. Joseph 
McCann (parent.s), 102 High St., So. Manchester, Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



167 




Private Hezekiah Scovil Porter 

Born June 4, 1896. Student class of 1919, Yale. Enl. 
Oct. 1, 1917, Niantic. Chemin des Dames, Toul, 
Chateau-Thierry. Killed by shell-fire on morning of 
July 22, 191<S, during attack on town of Epieds north of 
Chateau-Thierry. Buried near spot where he fell and 
later moved to American cemetery at Seringes-et- 
Nesles. Nearest kin: Whitney S. Porter (brother), Hig- 
giiiiinn, Conn. 





Private, 1st Class, Harold Ansley Smith 

Born JuneSO, 1898. Farmer. Enl. Apr. U, 1917, Co. D, 
1st Vermont Inf., St. Johnsbury. Trans, to Bn., Nian- 
tic, Aug. 27. Pvt., 1st class, June 1, 1918. Chemin des 
Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Killed by shell-fire, 
near Sacerie Farm north of Chateau Thierry, night of 
July 22, 1918. Buried near spot where he fell and later 
moved to American cemetery, Seringes-et-Nesles. Near- 
est kin Andrew Smith {brother), Hardivick, Vt. 



Corporal Lawrence Crothers Yerges 

Born Jan. 25, 1893. Department superintendent 
American Hosiery Co., New Britain, Conn. Enl. 
Aug. 25, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, Feb. 1, 1918; 
corporal Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Wounded by shell- 
fire at Brabant Woods north of Verdun, Oct. 23 and 
died in hospital at Glorieux Oct. 21, 1918. Buried in 
American cemetery, Glorieux. Played on Co. football 
team. Nearest kin : Mr. and Mrs. Fred J. Yerges 
(parents), 323 West Ninth Ave., Columbus, Ohio. 



COMPANY C 

Private, 1st Class, John Franklin Alexander 

Born Sept. 8, 1892. Clerk, Aetna Life Ins. Co., 
Hartford. Enl. Troop L, Hartford, June 5. 1917. 
Pvt., 1st class, Jan, 1918. Chemin des Dames, Toul, 
Chateau-Thierry. Gassed at Mandres, Apr. 20, 1918; 
hospital at Toul to May 1. Wounded by a shell morning 
of July 25, Fere Wood north of Chateau-Thierry. Died 
July 26, 1918, 103d Field Hosp. Buried in American 
cemetery, Bezu-le-Guery. Body was sent home and 
buried x\ug 27, 1921, Laurel Hill Cemetery, Chester. 
Member 1st Company Governor's Foot Guard. Nearest 
ki)!: Mrs Hannah C. Alexander (mother), Chester, Conn. 



168 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 







Wagoner Franklin Allen 

Born Sept. 10, lS9(i. Was graduated from Hartford 
High School and would have entered Yale. Enl. Troop 
L, Apr. 23, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 1, 1917; wagoner 
Apr. 1, 1918. All sectors. Gassed at Brabant Wood, 
Oct. 27. Sent to hospital at Mesves, Nov. 7. Died of 
pneumonia Nov. 24, 1918. Buried in American ceme- 
tery, Mesves. Body was sent home and buried in Cedar 
Hill Cemetery, Hartford, Jan. 7. 1921. Attended 
training camp at Plattsburg 1915 and 1916. Nearesl. 
kin: Mrs. Joshua IT'. Allen {mother), 16 Allen Place, 
Hartford, Conn. 

Private Albert Joseph Audette 

Born Feb. 15, 1895. Laborer. Enl. Co. D, 1st \i. 
Inf., June 16, 1917, Ft. Ethan Allen. Trans, to Battal- 
ion Aug. 27 at Niantic. All sectors. Killed by shell-fire 
at Brabant Wood, Oct. 23, 1918. Buried in American 
Cemetery, at Glorieux. Nearest kin: Alcvd P. Audette 
[brother), 13 Maple St., St. Johnsbury, Vt'. 

Private William Alfred Bruton 

Born July 18, 1884. Printer, Case, Lockwood & 
Brainard Co., Hartford. Enl., Niantic Aug. 4, 1917, 
Troop L. Chemins des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. 
Killed by shell-fire at Fere Woods, north of Chateau- 
Thierry, on the morning of July 25, 1918. Buried in 
American cemetery, Seringes-et-Nesles. Body was 
sent home and buried in Mount St. Benedict Cemetery, 
Hartford, July 15, 1921. Nearest kin: Mrs. Catherine 
Bruton {mother), 4o7 Hillside Ave., Hartford. 

Private, 1st Class, Ignatius Brzostowicz 

Born Dec. 29, 1888. Farmer. In 4th Inf., So. Da- 
kota N. G., Mexican Border, 1916. Discharged and 

re-enl. when war was declared. Assigned 41st. Div. .\rr. F'rance, March, 
1018. In order to reach France sooner, refused opportunity to goto 
U. O. T. C. In 41st Div. promoted mechanic, later sergeant. No N. 
('. O's being sent to Front, was reduced to pvt. at own request in order 
to join combat division. Joined Battalion April, 1918. All sectors 
except Clicmin des Dames. Pvt.. 1st class. May S, 191S. Hosp. Mon- 
tigii\-le-H(>i. Dec. 5. Died of pneumonia Dec. S. Buried in .\merican 
cenictcry, Montigny. Recommended for D. S. C. for gallantry, Bra- 
bant Woods. Cited: "The following named officers and men who dis- 
phiNcd marked gallantry and performed services of extraordinary value 
during operations of this Division north of Verdun between Oct. 18th 
and Nov. 11th, 191S, are congratulated by the Division Commander and 
are hereby cited in orders. 



PvT. 1st Cl.\ss, Ign.^tius Brzostowicz 

C. R. Edw.\rds 

Major General, Commanding" 

Nearest kin: ]'inrei!l Brzostowicz {father), l\'iscoiisi)i 
Rapids, Wis. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



169 





Private David Alfred Blowers 

Born jNIar. 1, 1896. Lumberman. Answered the 
draft, Ft. Slocum, N. Y. May 10, 1918. Trained at 
Cp. Hancock, Ga. Arrived France Aug. 5; joined 
Battalion, Sept. 8. St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne. 
Severely wounded and gassed, Brabant Woods, Oct 24; 
hospital to Dec. 15. Contracted pneumonia on the 
Agamemnon; sent to Parker Hill Hosp., Boston, on 
April 8. Died, April 15, 1919. Is buried at Bacon Hill, 
N. Y. Nearest kin: Leonard H. Blowers (father), Schuy- 
lerville, N. Y. 

Private, 1st Class, Paul Watson Butler 

Born May 6, 1898. Clerk at S. K. F. Ball Bearing Co., 
Hartford. Enl. Troop B, April 4, 1917. Trans. Tp. B 
to L, Apr. 14, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 1, 1917. 
Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Killed 
by shell-fire on morning of July 25, 1918 in Fere Woods 
north of Chateau-Thierry. Buried where he fell and 
later removed to American cemetery at Seringes-et- 
Nesles. Nearest kin: Mrs. Robert \V. Butler (mother), 
Cedar Rapids, hnva: Robert IF. Butler (father), Sarasota, 
Fla. 




Corporal Robert Elroy Collins 

Born Feb. 23. 1896. Clerk in Aetna Life Ins. Co., 
Hartford. Enl. Troop B Apr. 4. 1917. Trans. Tp. L 
Apr. 14, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; corporal, 
Oct. 15, 1918. All sectors. Killed by sheU-fire at Bra- 
bant Woods, Oct. 23, 1918. Buried at Bevaux Bar- 
racks, Verdun, and later in American cemetery, Ro- 
magne-sous-Montfaucon. His body was sent home 
and was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford, 
Sept. 7, 1921. Nearest kin: Mr. and Mrs. John Collins 
(parents), 4? Elliot St., Hartford. 

2nd. Lieutenant Lorne Lee Cupples 

Born Ian. 12, 1882. Superintendent, Whitall Mfg. 
Co., Lowell, Mass. Enl. in R. O. T. C. at Plattsbur^g 
Aug. 28, 1917. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Nov. 27, 
1917, and was assigned to 303d M. G. Bn., 76th Div., 
Camp Devens. Arrived, England July 22, 1918 and 
France shortly after. Joined Battalion at Etrochey 
Aug. 25th. St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne. Wound- 
ed Oct. 23, Brabant Wood north of Verdun. Died in 
hospital at Glorieux Nov. 2, 1918. Buried in American 
cemetery, Glorieux. Nearest kin: Marian J. Cupples 
(widow), 116 Grove St., Lowell, Mass.. 



170 



History of Tin: 101 st Machixk Gu\ Battalion 




Wagoner Harry (jIlbert Fatlk 

Born Sept. 16, 1897. Chauffeur. Enl., Niantic Aug. 
23, 1917. Wagoner, Mar. 31, 1918. Chemin des Dames, 
Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Wounded morning of July 25, 
1918 at Fere Woods north of Chateau-Thierry and died 
in 103d Field Hospital the same day. Was buried in the 
American cemetery at Belleau. Body sent home and 
buried in Cypress Cemetery, Saybrook Pt., Conn., Sept. 
11, 1921 . Nearest kin: Mi: and Mrs. F. C. Faulk, Say- 
brook, Conn. 




Mechanic Kenneth Sinclair Murray Finlayson 

Born Nov. 23, 1894. Carpenter. Enl. Troop L 
June 12, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, July 13, 1918; mechanic, 
August, 1918. All sectors. Wounded by a shell at Bra- 
bant Woods, Oct. 23 and died in hospital near Verdun 
Oct. 24, 1918. Buried in American cemetery, Glorieux. 
Two of Finlayson 's brothers were killed fighting with 
the British and Canadian Armies. Nearest kin: Mr. and 
Mrs. Donald Finlayson (parents), Castletown. Scotland. 




Private, 1st Class, Moseley Hastings C^ray 

Born May 31, 1S9(). Mechanical and electrical en- 
gineering. Enl. Co. A, 1st Vt. Inf., at Ft. Ethan Allen, 
May 4, 1917. Trans, to Battalion Aug. 27, Niantic. 
Pvt., 1st class, Oct. 3, 1917. All sectors. Killed by 
shell-fire at Brabant Woods Oct. 23, 1918. Buried at 
Bevaux Barracks, Verdun, and later in American 
cemetery, Romagne-sous-Montfaucon. Nearest kin: 
Mr. and Mrs. Francis L. Gray (parents), Middletown 
Springs, Vt. 




i^ . ^ " iw 



Mechanic Waldo Clayton Hayes 

Born Nov. 19, 1894. Salesman. Enl. Troop L at 
Hartford, Apr. 23, 1917. Promoted to horseshoer 
Aug. 1 ; mechanic Aug. 27, 1917. All sectors. Wounded 
by shell-fire while driving car in Verdun, Oct. 23. 
Died in hospital there Oct. 24, 1918. Buried in Ameri- 
can cemetery at Glorieux. Body sent home and buried 
in Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford, July 21, 1921. 
Hayes-\'ellage Post, American Legion, West Hartford, 
is named in his memory. Nearest kin: Mr. and Mrs. 
William E. Hayes (parents), 1132 Farmington Ave., 
West Hartford. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



171 





Private Fred Wilson Hyland 

Born Mar. 1, 1887. Mechanic. Answered the draft 
May 9, 1918. Trained at Camp Hancock, 9th M. G. 
Co. Arrived France Aug. 6 and sent to Mayet. Joined 
Battalion Sept. 8. St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne. 
Wounded by shell-fire at Brabant Woods Oct. 23, 1918 
and died same day at dressing station, SamogneiLX. 
Buried there, and later in American cemetery, Romagne- 
sous-Montfaucon. Body sent home and buried in 
North Scituate, Sept. 25, 1921. Nearest kin: Mr. and 
Mrs. Charles E. Hyland (parcnls), North Scituate, Mass. 

Private James Francis Kane 

Born Jan. 5, 1888. Chauffeur, American Express Co., 
N. Y. Answered the draft New York, May 25, 1918. 
Trained at Camp Hancock, Ga. and Mayet, France. 
Arrived England Aug. 8, 1918. Assigned to Battalion 
Sept. 8. St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne. Gassed at 
Brabant Woods Oct. 27. Sent to hospital at Orleans. 
Died, November 30, 1918, of pneumonia resulting from 
gas poison. Buried in French military cemetery, Or- 
leans. Body sent home and buried Jan. 6, 1921 , Calvary 
Cemetery, Long Island City. Nearest kin: Mrs. Gene- 
vieve A. Kane (widow), 97 Walker St., New York City. 

Private, 1st Class, Walter Clifford Lamkins 

Born Oct. 23, 1896. Salesman, Flint-Bruce Co., 
Hartford. Enl. Troop L May 15, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, 
Apr. 1, 1918. All sectors. Wounded by shell-fire at 
Brabant Woods Oct. 23 and died in hospital at Glorieux 
Oct. 24, 1918. Buried in American cemetery, Glorieux. 
Body was sent home and buried in Center Cemetery, 
East Hartford, July 23, 1921. Lamkins was formerly 
a member of 1st Company, Governor's Foot Guard. 
Nearest kin: Mr. and Mrs. Frederick IF. Lamkins 
(parents), 297 Westland St., Hartford. 




Private Raymond Eugene Martin 

Born Aug. 20, 1898. Student at Goddard Seminary. 
Enl. Apr. 19, 1917, 1st Vermont Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. 
Assigned to Battalion, Niantic, Aug. 27, 1917. All 
sectors. Trans. Sept. 22 to Co. B, 103d Inf. Killed by 
a machine-gun bullet Sept. 26, 1918 during attack on 
Riaville. Buried where he fell. Location of grave un- 
known. Nearest kin: Mr. and Mrs. Eugene L. Martin 
(parents), Hancock, Vt. 



172 



History of Tuk 101st Machink Gun Battalion 



Pruate Giuseppe Moi.ixari 

Answered the draft Sept. 20 at Camp Devens. 
Joined Battalion Sept. 21 at Niantic. Chemin des 
Dames and Toul. Wounded at Mandres, April 20, at 
time of the attack on Seicheprey. Removed to hospital 
at Menil-la-Tour where he died Apr. 21, 1918. Buried 
at Menil-la-Tour. Nearest kin: Mrs. Eath Molinari, 
Piacize, Italy. 






Private, 1st Class, Carroll Vernon Smith 

Born Jan. IS, 1S99. Fanner. Enl. 1st Vennont Inf., 
Waterbury, June 15, 1917. Assigned to Battalion, 
Xiantic, Aug. 27,. 1917. Shortly after arrival in France 
was taken with influenza and rheumatism. After 
treatment in several hospitals there, was sent home on 
Feb. 1-4, 1918 and placed in U. S. General Hosp., Gun 
Hill Road, N. Y., where he died May 22, 1918. Buried 
in West Branch Cemetery, Stowe \'t. Nearest ki)i: 
Edsoii I). Smith {father), Spriiiiijield, Mass. 







Private, 1st Class, Andrew Smith Wellington 

Born May 4, 1893. Salesman. Enl. Troop L, Niantic, 
Aug. 15, 1917. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau- 
Thierry. Was killed by shell-fire, morning of July 25, 
1918, at Fere Wood north of Chateau-Thierry. Buried 
where he fell and later in American cemetery, Seringes- 
et-Nesles. On company football team. Nearest kiit: 
Mr. and Mrs. Marshall S. Wellington (parents), 17 
Springside Ave., Pittsjield, Mass. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



173 




DIED AFTER LEAVING SERVICE 



Private Gordon Robert Barratt 

Bom Mav 27, 1896. Farmer. Married Oct. 12, 1920. 
Enl. May 30, 1917, 1st Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. Trans, 
to Bn. Aug. 27, Niantic. All sectors. Discharged with 
Battalion Apr. 29, 1919. Died June 23. 1921 as result 
of accident. Member of Green Klountain Post, Ameri- 
can Legion, St. Albans. Buried in Highgate Center 
Cemetery, Highgate Center, \'t. Next of kin: Jessie M. 
Barratt {widcm'), Highgate, Vt. 




Mtt. 



Priv.ate, 1st CL.A.SS, George Weston "Ward 

Born Tan. 10, 1S91. Auditor, Scottish Union Ins. 
Co., Hartford. Enl. June 12, 1917, Troop L. Pvt., 1st 
class. Apr. 1, 1918. All sectors. Severely gassed, Brab- 
ant Woods, Oct. 26, 1918. In several hospitals in France 
until sent to United States. Hospital at Camp Dix 
until Apr. 12, 1919, when he was discharged from the 
service. Died from effects of gas on May 21, 1921. 
Buried in Harleigh Cemetery, Camden, N. J. Next of 
kin: Mrs. Mary M. Ward {mother), (>o9 Stokes Ave., 
Colliiissu'ood. N. J. 



174 



History of Thk 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



Commanding Officers 






Lieutenant Colonel James L. Howard 

Born Mar. 21, 1878. Married. Sec, Travelers Ins. 
Co. Enl. Batty. A, 1st Conn. Vol. Art. May 14, 1898, 

Siiaiiish-Am. War; mustered out Oct. 25, 1898. Dis. from N. G. Nov. 30, 
Is'.'S Comm'd. 1st Lt. and Commissary, 1st Conn. Inf. Apr. 6; Capt. 
:iik1 ,\dj. Oct. 29, 1903. Retired Mar. 1, 1907. Assigned command 
Tp. B Apr. 17, 1911. Comm'd. Major Oct, 29, 191.5. Trans. Res. C. N. 
G. Nov. 2, 1915. Federal ser. Sept. 4, 1916, to duty Nogales, Ariz, as 
Adj. 5tli Sep. Brigade; trans. 3rd Brig., 16th Provisional Div. as Adj. 
.ST)t. 25; Adj. 1st Brig., 12th Pro. Div. Ft. Sam Houston Oct. 13, 1916. 
Mustered out Nov. 11, 1916; trans. C. N. G. Res. Assigned conmiand 
3rd Sep. Sqdn., Conn. Cav., Mav 23, 1917; 101st M. G. Bn. Aug. 21, 
1917. Trans. Div. Staff as M. G. Officer Apr. 1, 1918. Comm'd. Lt.-Col. 
Aug. 26. Trans. Gen. Staff, A. E. F. and appointed Asst. C. of S., G-3, 
2()th Div., Nov. 6. Camp Commander at Niantic and of all troops on 
Mii/iiiitic. British S. A. Sch., Camiers, Jan., 1918, inclutliiifi 10 days on 
Brit Front at Vimy Ridge. Shell wound near Chateau-Tliiiirv .lulv 13, 
1918; 101st Fd.Hosp., La Ferte to July 23. Sk. in Am. Red Cross Hosp., 
Neuilly, Oct. 17-Nov. 16, 1918. All Div. sectors. Ret. U. S. Dec. 23; 
dis. Jan. 4, 1919. Placed on eligible list Gen. Staff. U. S. A. Dec. 23, 1920. 

Cited for gallantry at Marcheville Sept. 26, Div. G. O. Oct. 16, 1918. 
Awarded Croix de Guerre with palm by Commander-in-Ch. French 
Armies: 

"Ordre No. 12245 "D" (Extrait) 

Apres approbation du General Commandant en Chef les Forces 
Expeditionnaires Aniericaines en France, le Mar^chal de France, 
Commandant en Chef les Armees Francaise de I'Est, cite a I'ordre de 
I'Armee, : 

Lieutenant Colonel James L. Howard, Officier de mitrailleuses divi- 
sionnaires, (26e Division d'Infanterie Americaine) : 

'A rendu volontairement de grands services pendant tout I'engage- 
ment et a organise les defenses des Mitrailleuses a un moment ou un 
detachment de I'effectif en avant 6tait completement occup^ et entoure; 
a aide a son repli, se frayant un chemin vers la position principale'. 

Au Grand Quartier General, le 11 Decembre, 1918. 

Le Mar^chal de France. 
Retain." 

Awarded D. S. C. in orders of G. H. Q., A. E. F. as follows: 
"For extraordinary heroism in action at Marcheville, France, Sept. 
26, 1918. Lt.-Col. Howard directed the machine-gun attack in person. 
Entering Marcheville ahead of the troops, he rendered great assistance 
while the town changed hands four times. When he was in a small party, 
cut off and surrounded h>- the ciiciiiy and under lire from every direc- 
tion, by his coolness and resourc-efuhicss. he assisted materially in aiding 
the party to withdraw. He effectively organized machine-gun defenses 
when the enemy was endeavoring to drive our troops from the town. 
During the entire day he was under intense artillery bombardment, 
machine-gun and rifle fire, and hand-to-hand conflict with the enemy." 

Appointed a Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur on May 14, 1919 by 
the President of France. 

233 Keiiyon St., Hartford, Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



175 




Major Morgan G. Bulkeley, Jr. 

Born Dec. 25, 1885. Married. Asst. Treas. Aetna 
Life Ins. Co., Enl. Tp. B. Mar. 9, 1911. L cpl. Dec 30, 
1912; cpl. Sept. 26, 1913; sgt. July 27, 1914; comm'd 
2nd Lt. Jan. 4, 1916; 1st Lt. Nov. 2, 1916; Capt. 
Nov. 30, 1916; Maj. Aug. 1, 1918. Command Tp. B. 
Nov. 30, 1916; Bn. Apr. 1, 1918. All sectors. Gassed 
Verdun Oct. 27; hosp. Limoges Nov. 2; Bordeaux 
Dec. 6, 1918. Invalided U. S. Dec. 30; dis. Jan. 9, 1919. 
Mex. Border 1916 as 2nd Lt. Tp. B. Recommended for 
Croix de Guerre. 

Citation: "I have read with much pleasure the reports of your gal- 
lant conduct and devotion to duty in the field on Oct. 27 to 30th, 1918, 
in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and have ordered your name and deed 
to be entered in the record of the Yankee Division. 
C. R. Edwards 

Major General, Commanding" 

1130 Prospect Ave, Hartford, Conn. 




Major Laurence H. Watres 

Born July 18, 1882. Attorney. Enl. Oct. 1907, 
13th Inf. Penn. N. G., Scranton. Tr. Cp. Hancock, 
Ga. 108th M. G. Bn., 28th Div. Arr. overseas May 16, 
1918. Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, and Oise- 
Aisne. Shell-wound Sept. 6, 1918, Baslieux; hosp. 
Nantes. Comm'd. Major Oct. 26, 1918. Assigned to 
command 101st M. G. Bn. Dec. 27, 1918; trans, back, 
to 28th Div. Jan. 17, 1919. Sch. at Le Wast, Fr., May 27 
—June 9, 1918. Ret. U. S.; May, 1919. 

Cited G. H. Q., A. E. F.: "For gallantry in action near Baslieux, 
France. 5 Sept. 1918, in assuming command of a disorganized company 
in addition to his own and brilliantly leading both companies forward." 

Elmhurst Boulevard, Scranton, Pa. 




Major Stillman F. Westbrook 

Born May 15, 1888. Married. Guernsey, Westbrook 
Co. wholesale lumber. Enl. Apr. 24, 1911, Tp. B. Cpl. 
Dec. 21, 1912; Sgt. Mar. 13, 1915; comm'd 2nd Lt. 
Nov. 28, 1916; 1st Lt. Apr. 26, 1917; Capt. June 3, 1918; 
Maj. Feb. 22, 1919. All sectors. Det. ser. in charge 
Bn. baggage Liverpool Oct. 23-Nov. 26, 1917. British 
S. A. Sch., M. G. Sec, Camiers, Dec. 7, 1917-Jan. 31, 
1918. Canadian E. F., Vimy Ridge, Jan. 31-Feb. 18, 
1918, for instruction. Trans, command M. G. Co., 
104th Inf. Feb. 28; command this Bn. Mar 3, 1919, 
Mansigne. Sk. in hosp., Chaumont, Mar. 29-Apr. 3, 
1918. 1st Inf. N. G. of N. Y., 1904-5; Mex. Border, 
Tp. B. 1916. 

lOoJi- Asylum Ave., Hartford, Conn. 



176 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



BATTALION MEDICAL DETACHMENT 




Major Lester L. Powell, M. C. 

Born Mar. 24, 1S75. Married. Physician. Comm'd 
1st Lt. Med. CoHDs, Me. N. G., Augusta July 12, 1917; 
Capt. Sept. 16, 1918; Major Sept. 26, 1919. Surg. 
1st Me. H. F. A. to Aug. 26; 101st Inf. 26th Div. to 
Dec. 26, 1917. Arr. France Sept. 18, 1917; joined Bn. 
Dec. 26, 1917. All sectors. Gassed Verdun Oct. 28; 
hosp. Limoges Nov. 1; invalided U. S. Dec. 29, 1918; 
hosp. Devens to Feb. 16, 1919; dis. Aug. 2, 1919. Cita- 
tion for attending wounded of Bn. under fire July 22, 
near Epieds and Trugny and July 25, La Fere Wood. 

"The Division Coiniiiander takes great pleasure in citing in orders the 
fiilliiuiiit; nainoil otfiiirs and men who have shown marked gallantry 
and iiiiTit(irii>as scrvirc in the capture of Torcy, Belleau, Givry, Bour- 
esches Woods, li.K li.'t Woods, Hill 190 overlooking Chateau-Thierry. 



Etrepilly, Bc/u.t. I.i 
Fere-en-TardciH'i- mhi 
enemy from Jul.\ Is l( 



ds, Trugny and La Fere Woods to the .Jaulgonne 
. during the advance of this Division against the 
25, 1918, in the Second Battle of the I\Iarne. 



1st Lt. Lester L. Powell, M. C. 101st M. G. Bn. 




C. R. Edwards 
Major General, Coinmaiidiiuj" 

4S4 Cumhciiand Ave, roriland, Me. 

Captain Luman G. Moore, M. C. 

Born Dec. 17, 1880. Married. Physician. Comm'd 
1st Lt. Med. Corps May 5, 1917, Warren, O; Capt. 
Nov. 13, 1917. Arr. France Sept. 6, 1917. British Army, 
Paschendaele Sept. 16-Oct. 12, 1917; Arras Oct. 15, 
1917-Mar. 5, 1918; Brit. 1st Army R. A. M. C. Sch., 
Bruay, Mar. 6-16, 1918. Brit. Gen. Hosp., Calais, 
Apr. 6-Mar. 5; Albert Mar. 6-July 8; reserve to Aug. 1; 
the Somme Aug. 2-26, 1918; trans. U. S. Army— St. 
Alihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Joined Bn. Nov. 1, 1918. 
Ret. U. S. with Bn; dis. Apr. 14, 1919. 

Kinsman, Ohio. 




Captain Henry A. Bunker, M. C. 

Bom lune3, 1889. Physician. Comm'd 1st Lt. Med. 
Corps July 25, 1917, 5th Mass Inf. N. G; Capt. Mar. 
1919. 'joined Bn. Niantic, Oct. 5, 1917. Trans, com- 
mand 26th Div. Fd. Lab. Dec. 29, 1917. Chemin des 
Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Trans. Sept. 1, 1918, 
76th Div. Hqrs., St. Armand, as asst. psychiatrist. 
Trans, to duty at Base Hosp., Pres-sous-la-Fauche, 
Nov. 12, 1918; Allercy, Dec. 1918-Feb. 1919; Savenay 
Feb.-May, 1919. Ret. U. S. May 29; dis. June 21, 1919. 

Medjield, Mass. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



177 




Captain William J. Clegg, D. C. 

Born Nov. 21, 1886. Married. Dentist. Comm'd 
1st Lt., Dent. Corps Aug. 8, 1917, Entered service 
Quonset, R. I. Trans, to Niantic as camp dent. surg. 
Left Niantic Oct. 2; arr. France Oct. 21 with 102nd 
Fd. Hosp. Trans, to Bn. Nov. 21. Trans. 101st Sanit. 
Train Feb. 4, 1918; later to 103rd Cp. Infirmary; 103rd 
Fd. Art; 102nd Fd. Hosp. Sanit. Sch. Dec, 1917. Sk. in 
hosp., Toul, June, 1918. Rejoined Bn. Nov. 21, 1918. 
Comm'd Capt. Feb. 1919. 

11 Vaudcnvatcr St., Providence, R. I. 



1st Lieutenant Edward R. Murphy, D. C. 

Born Feb. 28, 1890. Dentist. Comm'd 1st Lt., Dent. 
Corps July 5, 1917 and assigned 1st Engrs., Mass, 
N. G., later 101st Engrs. Arr. France Oct. 18, 1917; 
joined Bn. Feb. 1, 1918. Chemin des Dames, Toul, 
Chateau-Thierry. Trans. July 18, Base Hosp. 30. 
Royat; S. O. S. Hqrs., Tours; Cp. Hosp. 27, Tours. 
Army Dent. Sch. Langres, May 4-22, 1918. Ret. U. S. 
Apr. 28, 1919; dis. June 3, 1919. 

10 Manchester Rd., Winchester, Mass. 



1st Lieutenant Buehler, D. C. 

Joined Bn. as dental surgeon in October and was 
transferred to another unit about Nov. 20. 
Address unknown. 




Chaplain Earl Taggart 

Born July 6, 1888. Married. Clergyman. Enl. 
June 15, 1918, Army Sch. for Chaplains, Cp. Taylor, 
Ky. Comm'd. 1st Lt. & Chapl. July 5, 1918. Arr. 
France Sept. 2; joined Bn. Sept. 18. St. Mihiel, Troyon, 
Meuse-Arg. Univ. of Caen Mar. 1-July 1, 1919. Ret. 
U. S. July 13; dis. July 16, 1919. 

4319 Iowa Ave., Washington, D. C. 



178 



History of Tiik IOIst Machine Gun Battalion 







COMPANY B 

Captain H. Wyckoff Mills 

Born Sept. 29, 1883. Manufacturing. Enl. Tp. B 
Mar. 8, 1911. Cpl. Mar. 13, 1914; sgt. xA.ug. 2, 191G; 
1st sgt. Tp. B Dec. 6, 1916. Dis. for non-residence 
Dec. 20, 1916. Re-enl. May 2, 1917. Comm'd 1st Lt. 
May 14, 1917; Capt. Sept. 13, 1918. Adj. and Supply 
Officer 3rd Sept. Sqdn. Conn. Cav. May 14, 1917. All 
sectors. Inf. Sch. Chatillon, Aug. 1918; Army M. G. 
Sch., Langres, Sept. 25-Nov. 1, 1918. Command B Co. 
Nov. 26, 1918. Mex. Border 1916. 

.)() Farmiiigtoii Ave., Hartford, Conn. 

1st Lieutenant Chester F. Comey 

Born Aug. 21, 1888. Salesman, Library Bureau, 
Htfd. Enl. Tp. B May 5, 1914. L. cpl. Jan. 21, 1916; 
cpl. June 23, 1916; sgt. Dec. 6, 1916; comm'd 2nd Lt. 
April 26, 1917; 1st Lt. Nov. 16, 1917. Camp Adj. 
Niantic; Asst. Ship's Adj. Megantic. Command B Co. 
April-Nov. 26, 1918, until appointed Bn. Adj. All sec- 
tors. Gassed Verdun Oct. 27; not evacuated. M. G. Sch. 
Gondrecourt Feb. 22-Mar. 22, 1918. Mex. Border 1916. 

Mansfield, Mass. 

1st Lieutenant Philip S. Wainwright 

Born May 12, 1885. Auto dealer. Enl. Jan. 25, 1912 
Tp. B. Saddler July 3, 1912; sgt. Oct. 30; Q. M. sgt. 
Dec. 30, 1912; reduced to pvt. at own request Jan. 14, 
1914; Tp. elk. April 1, 1914; cpl. July 27, 1914; sgt 
Sept. 1, 1916; 1st sgt. May 1, 1917. Comm'd 2nd Lt. 
Jan. 28, 1918; 1st Lt. July 21, 1918. All sectors. Inf. 
Tactical Sch. Gondrecourt, June 8-July 8, 1918; Army 
M. G. Sch. Langres, Nov. 17-Dec. 17, 1918. Spec, duty 
Div. Hcjrs. Montigny, as Div. Ordnance Insp. Jan. 10- 
20,1919. Mex. Border, 1916. 

12 Forest St., Hartford, Conn. 

1st Lieutenant Harold Amory 

Born Sept. 3, 1893. Cotton broker. Enl. Feb. 1913, 
Tp. B. 1st Sqdn. Cav., Mass. N. G., Boston. R. O. T. C. 

Plattsburg 19L'), 'Itj and '17. Coiiim'd 2iid Lt. Auk- S, 1917. Joined 
Bn. Niantic Sep. 1, 1917. 1st Corps Sch. Gondrecourt, Mav, 1918. 1st 
Lt. Oct. 3, 1918. Sk. in Parker Hill hosp., Boston. April 7, 1919. Dis. 
.\pril 1."). 1919. At various times Co. mess officer and Bn. billeting 
and intilliaence officer. Cited for aiding wounded of Company under 
^liill-Hrc near Sacerie Farm, July 22; 

Till' Division Commander takes great pleasure in citing in orders the 
lollowing iiaiiicd officers and men who have shown marked gallantry 
Mild iiieritoridiis service in the capture of Torcy, Belleau. (iivry. Boures- 
rhcs Woods, Kocliet Wooiis, Hill 190 overlooking Chateau-Thierry, 
Ihreiiilly, Bezuet, Epieds, Trugny and La Fere Woods to the Jaulgonne 
I'crc-en-Tardenois Road, during the advance of this Division against 
the enemy from July 18 to 2."), 1918. in the Second Battle of the Marne. 

***** 
2ni) Lieutknwnt H.\koi.d .Amory, 101st M. G. Bx 

***** 

C. H. Edw.\rds 

Miijor General, Commanding" 

IS Guild Road, Dedhani, Mass. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



179 




1st Lieutenant Carl J. Sandberg 

Born Mar. 20, 1892. School teacher. Enl May 23, 
1917, 2nd Inf. Maine N. G. Augusta. Cpl. June 6, 1917. 
Plattsburg R. O. T. C. Aug. 19, 1917. Comm'd 1st Lt. 
Nov. 27, 1917. Arr. France Jan. 31, 1918. 2nd Corps 
Sch. Chatillon Feb. 2-Mar. 9; Mar. 9-19.1918 on French 
front, Belfort, for instruction. Joined Bn. Mar. 24. All 
sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. Trans. B. to C. Co. 
Mar. 17, 1919. 

171 Washington St., Hartford, Conn. 




1st Lieutenant Ch.arles A. Pellett 

Born Nov. 21, 1885. Builder. Enl. Jan. 16, 1915, 
1st Vt. Inf. Joined Bn. Niantic Aug. 23. Comm'd 
2nd Lt. Mar. 21, 1917; 1st Lt. & Bn. supply officer 
June, 1918. 1st Corps Sch. Gondrecourt, Jan. 7-Feb.22, 
1918 and June 8-July 8, 1918; Inf. Sch. Clamecy Jan. 2- 
Feb. 2, 1919. Mex. Border, 1916. 

76 Flat St., Brattlcboro, Vt. 




1st Lieutenant Charles A. Bennett 

Born June I, 1896. Married Sept. 7, 1917. Plant 
quarantine insp. Enl. R. O. T. C. Plattsburg, May 12, 

1917. Comm'd 2nd Lt. Aug. 14, 1917. Joined Bn. 
Niantic, Sept. 1. All sectors ex. St. Mihiel, Troyon, 
Meuse-Arg. 1st Corps Sch. Gondrecourt June 6-July 7, 

1918. Trans. U. S. as instructor, Cp. Lee, Va. Aug. 5, 
1918. 1st Lt. Sept. 6. Dis. Dec. 21, 1918. Coached 
Co. B. football team, Niantic. 

Durham, N. H. 




1st Lieutenant William K. Michael 

Born Dec. 19, 1886. Journalist. Enl. R. O. T. C. 
Ft. Riley, Kan. May 10, 1917. Comm'd 1st Lt. Aug. 15, 
1917. Arr. France Sept. 8, 1917. French Inf. Sch. 
Valreas, Sept. 1917. Joined Bn. Nov. 9, 1917. Trans. 
Jan. 10 "Stars and Stripes," Paris, as Bus. and Adv. 
Mgr. Rejoined Bn. Nov. 10, 1918; trans. 32d Div. 
Nov. 17, Army of Occ, Germany. Inf. Sch. Chatillon 
Mar. 1919. Sk. in hosp. Chatillon and Am. R. C. H. 
No. 3. Spec, duty at various times on different fronts 
with G-2-D, Gen. Staff. Ret. U. S. with 121st M. G. 
Bn., 32d Div; dis. May, 1919. 

:^101 Linwood Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 



180 



The History of The lOlsx Machine Gun Battalion 





2.\D Lieutenant A. Stewart (jray 

Born July 7, 1895. Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B. 
June 15," 1915. Pvt. 1 cl. Sept. 1, 1916; cpl. Apr. 28, 
1917; sgt. June 28, 1917; Bn. sgt. maj. Feb. 1, 1918. 
Chemin des Dames. Trans. Army Cand. Sch. Langres 
Apr. 1.: comm'd 2nd Lt. July 9. Instructor A. C. S. 
Rejoined Bn. Dec. 25, 1918.' Co. B. football team. 
Mex. Border 1916. 

GO Evergreen Ave., Hartford, Coiiu. 



2nd Lieutenant Houghton Bulkeley 

Born Aug. 9, 1896. Student Yale. Married Sept. 5, 
1917. Enl. Oct. 29, 1915, 10th Fd. Art. Yale Batty., 
C. N. G. Trans. Tp. B. June 20, 1916. Pvt. 1 cl, and 
L. cpl. May 1, 1917; cpl. May 25, 1917; sgt. Aug. 27, 
1917. 1st Corps Sch. Gondrecourt, Nov. 24-Dec. 29, 
1917. Chemin des Dames. Trans. Army Cand. Sch. 
Langres, Apr. 1, 1918; comm'd 2nd Lt. July 9. Instruc- 
tor M. G. Sch. Langres. Trans. Jan. 1, 1919, 2nd Corps 
Sch. Chatillon. Rejoined Bn. Mar. 25, Brest. Co. B. 
football team. 

284 Oxford St., Hartford, Conn. 

2xD Lieutenant Frederick L. Way 

Born Oct. 24. 1896. Student Yale. Enl. Tp. B. 
June 21, 1916. Trans. Reserve Feb. 26, 1917. Active 
ser. Tp. B. July 25, 1917. Cpl. Aug. 1; sgt. Aug. 27, 
1917. French M. G. Sch. Chatenois, Nov. 25-Dec, 10, 
1917; 1st Corps Sch. Gondrecourt, Jan. 3-Feb. 3, 1918. 
Chemin des Dames. Army Cand. Sch. Langres, Apr. 1- 
July 9, 1918; comm'd 2d Lt. July 9. Instructor Army 
Anti-Aircraft Sch. Cieux-Moulins. Rejoined Bn. Mar. 
17, 1919. Co. B. football team. Mex. Border 1916. 

7.96' Prospect Ave.. Hartford, Conn. 




2nd Lieutenant C. Gilbert Shepard 

Born Apr. 5, 1892. Agt. ^tna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. B. Dec. 22, 1914. Pvt. 1 cl. Sept. 1, 1916; L. cpl. 
Dec. 27, 1916; cpl. Jan. 15, 1917; sgt. Apr. 28, 1917. 
Army Cand. Sch., Langres, Dec. 1, 1917-Mar. 12, 1918. 
Comm'd 2nd Lt. Feb. 1, 1918. Instructor A. M. G. 
Sch. Langres, Mar. 12. After armistice trans. 73d Co., 
6th Marines, Army of Occupation, Germany. Re- 
joined Bn. Mar. 1919. Mex. Border, 1916. 

IS Asvln?n St.. Hartford, Conn. 



The History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 181 




V^ 




2nd Lieutenant Gilbert L. Taggart 

Born Jan. 17, 1S90. Married Dec. 22, 1917. Clk. 
employ State of California. Enl. Aug. 5, 1917, Sacra- 
mento, 1st Cal. Cav., later 145th M. G. Bn., 40th Div. 
Tr. Cp. Kearney, Cal. Comm'd 2d Lt. Dec. 22, 1917. 
Arr. France Aug. 20, 1918; ioined Bn. Sept. S. Wounded 
Verdun Oct. 23; hosp. Pongues-les-Eaux and Mesves. 
Ret. U. S. Jan. 4; dis. Feb. 15, 1919. 3 yrs. 14th U. S. 
Cav; 7 yrs. Cal. N. G. 

635 East D St., Ontario, Cal. 



2nd Lieutenant Henry L. Fontaine 

Born Sept. 16, 1893. Civ. engr. Enl. Miss. N. G. 
1916. Tr. Cp. Beauregard. La. 140th M. G. Bn., 39th 
Div. Comm'd 2nd Lt. Mar. 20, 1917. Arr. France 
Feb. 1918. 1st Corps Sch. Gondrecourt June 1-July 20, 
1918. Trans. 77th Div. Gassed and wounded Meuse- 
Arg.; hosp. Issoudun and Rimaucourt, Nov.-Dec. 
Joined Bn. Dec. 23, 1918. 3rd Corps Sch. Clamecy 
Jan. 1-31, 1919. Left Bn. Cp. Devens; dis. April 19, 
1919. 

Lyon, Miss. 

COMPANY G 

Captain Rawdon W. Myers 

Born June 11, 1884. Married. Sec'y ^tna Cas. and 
Surety Co. Enl. Tp. B. Apr. 25, 1911. Sgt. June 9, 1911; 
1st sgt. Sept. 29, 1913; comm'd 2nd Lt. Mar. 28, 1916; 
1st Lt. Nov. 30, 1916; Capt. Apr. 26, 1917. All sectors. 
Gassed Verdun Oct. 29, 1918; not evacuated. 1st Corps 
Sch. Gondrecourt, June 8-July 7, 1918. Command of 
Tp. L. on formation Apr. 14, 1917; of Bn. Nov. 2- 
Dec 27, 1918, and Jan. 17-Mar. 3, 1919. 7th Regt. 
N. Y. N. G. 1905-1907. Sqdn. C, Cav., N. Y. N. G. 
1907-1908. 1st sgt. Tp. B. Mex. Border 1916. 

^57 Laurel St., Hartford, Conn. 

Captain William S. Eaton 

Born Nov. 14, 1888. Hart & Hegeman Co., Htfd. 
Enl. Tp. B. Mar. 12, 1912; dis. Mar. 11, 1915. Re-enl. 
Dec. 7, 1915. L. cpl. June 24, 1916; cpl. Sept. 1, 1916. 
Dis. for non-residence Feb. 7, 1917. Re-enl. Tp. B. 
Apr. 25, 1917. Comm'd 2nd Lt. and trans. Tp. L. 
Apr. 26, 1917; 1st Lt. Nov., 1917; Capt. Sept. 1918. 
Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. French 
M. G. Sch. Chatenois, Nov. 25-Dec. 10, 1917. Ret. 
U. S. as instructor Aug. 25, 1918; 36th M. G. Bn., 12th 
Div. Cp. Devens. Dis. Dec. 6, 1918. Mex. Border,1916. 

Care Hart b' Hegeman Co., Hartford, Conn. 



182 



History of Tiik 101st Machine Gun Battalion 







Captain Georgk W. Cheney 

Born Aug. 9, 1888. Married. Clk. Phoenix Mutual 
Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B. Mar. 9, 1911. Cpl. May 19. 

ntlo; sgt. Dec. (i, li)U>; 1st s^t. Tp. IV Doc. 27, 19Hi; roiiini'il 1st Lt. 
Apr. 2(;, 1<)17. and trans. Tj). L; Capt. .hilv, lOlS. M.G.Scli. Gondre- 
<-i)urt Nov. 24-Dcc. 'M . 1917. Spec, duty Div. Hqrs. Feb. 191S. Cheniin 
di'S Danios, Toul, C'liatcavi-Thicrrv. Ret. U. S. as instructor July lo. 
command Co. C. 3!)th M. (i. Un.. VMU Div. Cp. Lewis, Wash. Sept. 13. 
.Mox. Border, 10 IC. Dis. Dec. 28, 1918. 

31 Hartfoyd Rd., Manchester, Conn. 



Captain Chester C. Thomas 
Born Feb. 5, 1889. Civ. Engr. Enl. Lst Fd. Art. 
\'t. N. Ci. Sept. 12, 1905 serving as pvt.. cpl., and sgt. 

to .June 24, 1908 when trans. \t. Sig. Corps and comm'd 1st Lt. lie- 
signed ,Iune 24, 1909. Comm'd Capt. and Adj. Lst Vt. Inf. Dec. 12, 
1910; resigned .lulv 1.^), 1912. Kid. Co. A, 1st Vt. Inf. Apr. 11, 1917, and 
comm'd 2d Lt. \\n. 12; 1st Lt. May 17. 1917. Trans. Co. C, 101st M.O. 
Hn.. Niantic, Xu^. 27; to Co. .\ Dec. 1917 and trans, with Co. to 102d 
.M. (!. Bn. ,lan. 21. Chemin des Dames and Toul. Ret. L. S. as M. G. 
instructor Cp. Hancock, Ga., May 30, 1918. Comm'd Capt. Sept. 19. 
Dis. Dec. 18, 1918. 

Florence, Vt. 

1st Lieutenant John H. Agnew 

Born Oct. 19, 1891. Secretary. Enl. Apr. 20, 1917 
R. O. T. C. Plattsburg. Comm'd 2nd Lt. Aug. 15, 1917; 

1st Lt. Sept. 13, 1918. .loined Bn. Niantic Sept. 1, 1917. 1st Corps Sch. 
Gondrecomt, ,Iune 8-Jidy 7, 1918. All sectors. Gassed Oct. 28, Verdun. 
Not evacuated. Command of Co. C Nov. 2-Dec. 27, 1918; Jan. 17--Mar. 
3, 1919. 2d C. C. Mass. N. G. and 2d Bn. Mass. F. Art. 1911-191.5. 

Lvnn, Moss. 



1st Lieutenant Gerald Courtney 

Born Nov. 14, 1894. Student Harvard Law Sch. 
Enl. May 12, 1917 R. O. T. C. Plattsburg. Comm'd. 

2nd Lt. Auk. L"), 1917; 1st Lt. Sejit. 19, 1918. .Joined Bn. Niantic 
Sept. 1. 1917. Trans. .May 10, 1918 102nd .M. G. Bn.; later Bn. .\dj 
For a time attached M. G. Co., 102nd Inf. All sectors. Wounded and 
passed Sejjt. 2:>, 1918. Dis. Apr. 29. 1919. CiteiL "The Division Coni- 
niander is pleased to cite in orders the foIlowiuK named oHiccrs and en- 
listed men, and congratulates them on their exceptionally meritoriovis 
-I'lNHc and gallant conduct during the operations of this Division 
.iLMiii.-l the enemy at .Marcheville and Hiaville on Si'pt. 2.')tli and 2lith. 
I'.lls. Under a terrihc (>nemy artillery l)omhardment, lastiiiK for neail.x' 
four hours, and under intense machine-nun fire, and in Herci' hand-to- 
hanil conflicts with grenade, rifle, pistol anil bayonet, these otiicers and 
sokliers accomplished their mission and broke up four counter-attacks. 

1st Lieutenant Gerald Courtney, 102nd M. G. Bn. 



C. R. Edwards 

Major General, Commanding" 

.\ warded D. S. C: "For extraordinary heroism in action at Wadon- 
ville, France Sept. 2.5, 1918. He was wounded while conductins his 
platoon into position preparatory to laying a barrage for a raid. With 
utter disrcKard for his personal safet.w h(> remaineil on duty for more 
than an hour, satisfying himself that all his Kuns were jjroperly laid and 
adjusted for tiring, .^fter his wounds were dressed, he returni'd to duty 
and remaineti with his platoon until it was relieved." 



04 Bay State Road, Boston, Mass. 



The History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



183 






2nd Lieutenant John E. Cassidy 

Born Jan. 31, 1896. Lawyer. Enl. Apr. 24, 1917 
R. O. T.'C. South Bend, Ind; graduated as 2nd Lt. Tr. 
Ft. Sheridan, 111. Arr. France Jan. 22, 1918; joined Bn. 
Mar. 25. All sectors except Chemin des Dames. Shell 
wound Verdun Oct. 23. Inf. sch. Chatillon, Feb. 1- 
Mar. 10, 1918. Left Bn. Cp. Devens; dis. Apr., 1919. 

332 East Superior St., Ottawa, III. 



2nd Lieutenant Morton W. Scoyille 

Born May 22, 1891. Married. Builder. Enl. Tp. B 
Dec. 15, 1914. Trans. Tp. L. Apr. 14,1917. Pvt. 1 cl. 
Apr. 1, 1917; sgt. May 7, 1917; comm'd 2nd Lt. July 9, 
1918. Quarantined at Southampton, Eng. Oct. 26- 
Dec. 9, 1917. Chemin des Dames. 1st Corps Sch. 
Gondrecourt, Mar. 1-31, 1918; Army Cand. Sch. 
Langres Mar. 31-July 15, 1918; instructor Army Anti- 
Aircraft Sch. Cieux-Moulins, Langres. Rejoined Co. C. 
Dec. 24. 1918. Capt. Co. C. footbaU team, Niantic, Bn. 
athletic officer Mansigne. Mex. Border, 1916. 

18 Annawan St., Hartford, Conn. 

2nd Lieutenant Ralph H. Coburn 

Bom Oct. 15, 1893. Enl. May 11, 1917 R. O. T. C, 
Plattsburg. Comm'd 2nd Lt. Aug. 15, 1917. Joined 
Co. D, Niantic, Sept. 1. Trans. Co. C. Mont. Town 
Major at Mont. Chemin des Dames and Toul. M. G. 
Sch. Gondrecourt, April, 1918. Trans. 102d M. G. Bn. 
May 12. Ret. U. S. July 3; 139th M. G. Bn., 38th Div. 
Cp. Shelby, Miss. Later trans, to other units including 
nucleus 101st Div. Asst. Personnel Adj. Demob. Group 
Cp. Shelby. Dis. Sept. 24, 1919. 

70£ Pleasant St., Dracut, Mass. 




wMIk! 



■f-^rt 



2nd LIEUTEN.A.NT KeNNETH R. NiSBET 

Born Mar. 24, 1896. Mech. engr. Enl. June 2, 1917, 
3rd Kv. Inf. Lexington. Trans. Sept. Sanit. Det., 139th 
M. G.'Bn., 38th Div., Cp. Shelby, Miss. Trans. Air Ser. 
Kelly Fd., Tex., Nov. 1917. Pvt. 1 cl. Jan. 25, 1918. 
Aero Sch. Atlanta, and Armament Sch. Dayton, O. 
Comm'd 2nd Lt. Aviation Sec, Sig. Corps Mar. 19, 
1918. Arr. France July 12, 1918; joined Bn. Sept. 4. St. 
Mihiel, Trovon, Meuse-Arg. M. G. Sch. Langres, Sept. 
25-Oct. 28, i918; Sorbonne Univ. of Paris, Mar. 1, 1919 
rejoined Bn. same month. 
Earlington, Ky. 



184 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




^r V 



2nd Lieutenant Wendell H. Tkegarden 

Born Aug. 29, 1895. Contractor. Enl. Aug. .5, li)17, 
4th Inf. Indiana N. G. Cpl. Aug. 19, 1917; sgt. Oct. 
19, 1917; comm'd 2nd Lt. May 15, 1918. Tr. Cp. 
Shelby, Miss. 38th Div. Arr. France Oct. 2, 1918; joined 
Bn. Dec. 14. 2nd Corps Sch. Chatillon, Oct. 15-Nov. 
30, 1918; 3rd Corps Sch. Clamecy, Jan. 1-31, 1919. 
Left Bn. Cp. Devens; dis. April, 1919. 

I^S2 West 6th St., Anderson, I, id. 



2nd Lieutenant Glenn G. Dicker 

Joined Bn. Dec, 1917; trans. Aug., 1918. 
Address unknown. 



Note: The following eleven officers were commis- 
sioned from the ranks of the Battalion, with the excep- 
tion of Lieut. Chamberlain, and were carried after re- 
joining as "casual officers attached to Battalion Head- 
quarters." 




2nd Lieutenant Clinton L. Allen 
Born Oct. 3. 1893. Clk. Orient Ins. Co., Htfd. Mar- 
ried Oct. 5, 1917. Enl. Mar. 1, 1915 Tp. B. Cpl. Apr. 
28, 1917; sgt May 25, 1917; supply-sgt. Co. B. Sept. 
15, 1918. Inf. Cand. Sch. La Valbonne, Oct. 15, 1918- 
Jan. 15. 1919. Rejoined Bn. Jan. 23 and attached Bn. 
Hqrs. Comm'd 2d Lt. Mar. 20, 1919. Co. B. football 
team. Mcx. Border 1916. 

S Elizalnih St., Hartford, Conn. 



2nd Lieutenant George H. Berlin 
Born Nov. 5, 1891. Salesman. Enl. Tp. L, C. N. G. 
Mar. 29. 1917. Cpl. |uly 1, 1917; sgt. Sept. 27, 1917; 
All sectors. Shell wound Mandres Apr. 20, 1918. M. G. 
Sch. Langres Sept. 25, 1918; Army Cand. Sch. La Val- 
bonne, Oct. 15-Jan. 17, 1919. Rcioined Bn. Feb. 12, 
and attached Bn. Hqrs. Comm'd 2d Lt. Mar. 20, 1919. 
Troop G, Cav. N. Y. N. G. lulv 1, 19H)-May 1, 1917; 
Mcx. Border, 1916. 

43.9 So. Prospect Ave., Hartford, Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



185 




2nd Lieutenant Henry A. Brown 

Born Feb. IS, 1893. Ins. agent. Enl. Tp. B. Feb. 
16, 1916. Pvt. 1 cl. May 1, 1917; cpl. May 2o, 1917; sgt. 
Feb. 1, 1918. All sectors. Inf. Cand. Sch. La Valbonne 
Oct. 15, 191S-Jan. 15, 1919. Rejoined Jan. 23 and at- 
tached Bn. Hqrs. Comm'd2d Lt. Mar. 20, 1919. Mex. 
Border 1916. 

6d Evcrgreoi Ave., Hartford, Conn. 




2nd Lieutenant Rodman W. Chamberlain 

Born Jan. 13, 1892. Asst. purch. agt., Stanley Wks., 
New Britain. Enl. Co. I, 1st Inf., C. N. G., June 20, 

1916. Cpl. Aug. 3, 1916; .sgt. Feb. 16, 1917; conim'd 2d Lt. Mar. 26, 
1917 and trans. Co. E, 102d Inf. 1st Corps Sch., Gondrecourt, Dec, 

1917. Chemin des Dames and Toul. Injured on patrol, Toul Sector, 
May 28; hosp. Chauniont, Chateauroux and Biarritz to Sept., 1918. 
Assigned to 101 st M. G. Bn. Oct. 22 and attached Bn. Hqrs., Meuse- 
Arg. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 27; hosp. to Dec. 1918. Rejoined 102d 
Inf.; ret. U. S. with Regt.; dis. Apr. 29, 1919. Citations from 102d 
Inf., 26th Div. and C. H. Q., A. E. F. for "conspicuous bravery in 
hand-to-hand combat with the enemy on night of Feb. 28, 1918." 
Recommended in Div. order for D. S. C. for same deed. Mex. Border, 
1st Conn. Inf., 1916. 

93 Harrison St., New Britain, Conn. 




2nd Lieutenant James A. S. Durston 

Born Mar. 22, 1893. Married June 20, 1917. Sales- 
man, Royal Typewriter Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. L June 12, 
1917. L. cpl. Aug. 1, 1917; cpl. Aug. 27, 1917; sgt. Oct., 
1917. All sectors. Inf. Cand. Sch., La Valbonne, Oct. 
14, 1918. Rejoined Jan. 23, 1919; attached Bn. Hqrs. 
Comm'd 2d Lt. Mar. 20, 1919. Co. C football team. 

4403 Springdale Ave., Forest Park, Baltimore, Md. 




2nd Lieutenant Lawrence H. Hansel 

Born Jan. 30, 1898. Student Yale. Enl. June 21, 
1916. Tp. B. Mex. Border and furloughed to Reserve 
Feb. 26, 1917. Active service July 25, 1917, Tp. L. 
Cpl. Aug. 3, 1917; sgt. April 2, 1918. All sectors. Inf. 
Cand. Sch. La Valbonne, Oct. 14, 1918. Rejoined Jan. 
23, 1919. Comm'd 2d Lt. Mar. 20, 1919. R. O. T. C, 
Plattsburg, July 5-Aug. 8, 1915. 

1144 Prospect Ave., Hartford, Conn. 



186 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




2nd Lieutenant Roy D. Heymann 

Born Dec. S, 1890. Purchasing agt., Arrow Elec. Co., 
Htfd. Married Apr. 10, 1917. Enl. Co. B, Niantic, 
Aug. 23, 1917. Pvt. 1 cl. Jan. 4, 1918; cpl. Feb. 1; sgt. 
Apr. 1, 1918; Bn. sgt. maj. July 1, 1918. Jan. 1918 
British S. A. Sch. M. G. Sec. Camiers including 10 days 
with British, Vimy Ridge. Rejoined Bn. Feb. 13. All 
sectors. Inf. Can. Sch. La Valbonne Oct. 15, 1918- 
Jan. 15, 1919. Rejoined Bn. Jan. 23 and attached Bn. 
Hqrs. Comm'd 2d Lt. Mar. 20, 1<)19. Dis. at Devens, 
April 19, 1919. 

139 Girard Ave, II art ford, Coiui. 




2nd Lieutenant Herbert C. Noyes 

Born Oct. 5, 1894. Sargent & Co., New Haven. Enl. 
April 21, 1917, Tp. D, C. N. G., New Haven. Cpl. June 
28, 1917. Trans. Bn. Hqrs. Aug. 1917. All sectors. 1st 
Corj^s Sch. Gondrecourt, May 3-June 3, 1918; Army 
Cand. Sch. Langres, Oct. 30, 1918-Jan. 31, 1919. Re- 
joined Feb. and attached Bn. Hqrs. Comm'd 2d Lt. 
Mar. 30, 1919. 

393 Orchard St., New Haven, Conn. 



2nd Lieutenant Luther J. Parker 

Born June 18, 1891. Salesman, Parker Shirt Co., 
New Britain. Enl. May 15, 1917 Tp. B. Pvt. 1 cl. 
Aug. 15, 1917; cpl. Aug. 27, 1917; sgt. Feb. 1, 1918; 
1st sgt. Co. B. Aug. 1, 1918. All sectors. French M. G. 
Sch. Chatenois, Nov. 25-Dec. 10, 1917; 1st Corps Sch. 
Gondrecourt, June 8-July 7, 1918; Inf. Cand. Sch. La 
Valbonne, Oct. 15-Jan. 15, 1919. Rejoined Jan. 23 and 
attached Bn. Hqrs. Comm'd 2d Lt. Mar. 20, 1919. 
Capt. Co. B football team. 

73 Evergreen Ave., Hartford, Conn. 



2nd Lieutenant Roberts K. Skinxer 

Born Oct. 1, 1886. Married. Real estate broker. 
Enl. Tp. B Apr. 4, 1917. Pvt. I cl. May 26, 1917; cpl. 
Aug. 27, 1917; sgt. Aug. 1, 1918. French M. G. Sch. 
Chatenois, Nov. 25-Dcc. 10, 1917. In charge B Co. mo- 
tors from May 10, 1918. All sectors. Motor Transport 
Sch. Dccizc Nov. 1-I)ec. 23, 1918. Comm'd 2d Lt. 
Mar. 20, 1919. 

Ll'i No. Beacon St., Hartford, Conn. 



History or The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



187 





2nd Lieutenant William C. Skinner, Jr. 

Born Dec. 27, 1888. Married. Real estate broker. 
Enl. Aug. 14, 1917 Tp. B. Niantic. Pvt. 1 cl. Aug. 27, 
1917; cpl. Apr. 1, 1918. British S. A. vSch., M. G. Sec. 
Camiers Dec. 7, 1917-Jan. 31, 1918, including 10 days 
British front Vimy Ridge. Rejoined Bn. Feb. 13. AH 
sectors. Comm'd 2d Lt. Ordn. Dept., Oct. 20, 1918. 
Trans. Nov. 9, Ordn. Sch. Is-sur-Tille. Ret. U. S. Jan. 
21, 1919; dis. Jan. 28, 1919. 

Farmington, Conn. 

The following were commissioned on or after leaving 
the Battalion and did not serve with it as officers. 

Headquarters Company 

Captain Dwight A. Pease 

Born Oct. 26, 1892. Clk. Hart & Hegeman Mfg. Co., 

Htfd. Enl. Tp. B, Dec. 8, 1914. Pvt. 1 cl. Sept. 1, 1916; 

L. cpl. Dec. 6; cpl. Dec. 27, 1910. Trans. Tp. L. Apr. 14, 1917. Sgt. 
May 3; Sqdn. sgt.-major May 19, 1917. Army Cand. Sch., Langres, 
Dec 1 1917-March9, 1918. Comm'd 2d Lt. Jan. 29, 1918. M. G. .Sch., 
Langres Mar. 13-May 24, 1918. Trans. 35th Div. May 26; 33rd Div. 
July 22, 1918; 110th M. G. Bn., 29th Div. July 29. La Houssaye, 
Belfort and Meuse-Arg. Shell wound Oct. 23, Verdun. His company 
assisted attack of left of 26th Div. in Molleville Ravine. 1st Lt. Oct. 
10, 1918; Capt. May 2, 1919. Ret. U. S. May 22; dis. June 14, 1919. 
Mex. Border, 1916. 

405 Farmington Ave, Hartford, Conn. 

2nd Lieutenant Wilfred H. Tiernax 

Born Oct. 12, 1893. Clk. Enl. Mar. 13, 1916, Tp. A, 
C. N. G. New Haven. Cpl. Sept. 15, 1916; trans. Tp. 
M Apr. 14, 1917; sgt. May 19, 1917; supply-sgt. May 
20, 1917. Trans. Bn. Hqrs. Aug. 27, 1917. Sgt. major. 
(Bn. supply) Sept., 1917. Det. ser. Liverpool with Bn. 
baggage detail Oct. 23. Rejoined Nov. 26. All sec- 
tors. Comm'd 2d Lt. Q. M. Corps Dec. 7, 1918; trans. 
Troop-train Ser. Dec. 25. Univ. of Toulouse Mar. 1- 
June 20, 1919. Ret. U. S ; dis. July 3, 1919. Mex. 
Border, 1916, Tp. A. 

72 Carmcl St., New Haven, Conn. 




Company B 

1st Lieutenant Paul H. Alling 
Born July 16, 1896. Student Trinity Coll. Enl. Tp. 
B Apr. 25, 1917. Trans. 102d M. G. Bn. Dec. 6, 1917 on 
receiving comm. 1st Lt. dating from Oct. 26, 1917 
(exam, taken in U. S.). Trans. 3rd Cav. Jan. 12, 1918; 
Adv. Sec, S. O. S. Apr. 1 ; 2d sec. Gen. Staff, G. H. Q., 
Chaumont, June 3, 1918-June 10, 1919. St. Mihiel and 
Meuse-Arg. with 2d and 5th Divs. as guide to French 
and British observers. Ret. U. S. June 28; dis. July 
17, 1919. 

Hamden, Conn. 



188 



History of Tin: 101 sr Machine Gun Battalion 




2nd Lieutenant Vine R. Parmelee 

Born Aug. 2, 1894. Law elk. Enl. Tp. B Dec. 8, 1914. 
Cpl. Mar. 8, 1917; sgt. Apr. 28, 1917; aet'g Bn. sgt.- 
maj. Aug. 1917; Lst sgt. Co. B Feb. 1, 1918. Chemin des 
Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Spec, duty Div. mail 
detail St. Nazaire Dec. 1917. AI. G. Sch. Gondrecourt, 
Feb. 20-Mar. 27, 1918. Army Cand. Sch. Langres, 
July 80, 1918. Comm'd 2d Lt. Sept. 25, 1918 and as- 
signed 309th M. G. Bn., 78th Div., Oct. 1; Meuse- 
Arg. Gassed Oct. 19; hosp. to Nov. 15 and Jan. -Apr. 
1919. Attached Hqrs. Stafif, A. E. F. Univ. Beaune. 
Apr.-June, 1919. Ret. U. S. Aug. 3; dis. Aug. 22. 1!)19. 
Alex. Border, 191(i. 

S4I Asylum Ave, Hartford, Coini. 




2nd Lieutenant Robert W. Thomas, Jr. 

Born July 3, 1888. Clk. Orient Ins. Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. 
B. Feb. 16, 1910. Pvt. 1 cl. Sept. 1, 1916; cpl. Mar. 

S, 1917; sgt. May 28, 1917. Army Cand. Sch. Langres Dec. 1, 1917- 
Mar. 12, 1918. Comni'd 2d Lt. Jan. 29, 1918. M. G. Sch. Langres. 
Mar. 12-May 18, 1918. Assigned 14th. M. G. Bn., 5th Div. Anovild 
Sector May 20, 1918. Baccarat, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Arg. M. G. Sch. 
Langres, Nov. 1.5-Dec. 20, 1918. Trans. 316th M. G. Bn., 81st Div. 
May 1(>, 1919. Cited 5th Div. orders: •■2d Lt. Robert W. Thomas, Co. 
A. 14th M. G. Bn. For exceptional devotion to duty, enerey. and zeaL 
On Nov. 5, 1918, at Clery-le-Petit, France, (hnint: tlir Mciisc-.\rgonne 
offensive, he directed the fire of liis phitooii in Mippr.it i.l tlie troops 
which were attacking on the oijposite banlv of the Mi'U.sc Uivcr. ITnder 
direct oliservation of the enemy, he constantly exposed himself, per- 
son:ill>- directing each gun in its difficult task of overhead fire, thereby 
furnishing an inspiring example to his men. 



]5v command of .Major-General Ely. 

C. A. TRorr. 

Chief of Sl<ijr" 
Uet. U. S. .lune 21), dis .July 12, 1919. Mex. Border 1910. Co. I? football 
team. 



MulHiil Bldg., Ric/nnoiid, \'a. 




2xD Lieutenant Woolsey McA. Pollock 

P.oni |an. S, 1S9(). Engr. Whitlock Coil Pipe Co., 
Hlfd. Fnl. Tp. B Apr. 25, 1917. Chemin des Dames. 
I'vt. I cl. Jan. 15. 191S. Trans. Army Cand. Sch. 
Langres Apr. 7, 1918; comm'd 2d Lt. Julv 9, 1918. 
Assigned July 18. M. G. Co. 355th Inf., 89th Div.; 
Toul, St. Mihiel, Mcu.sc-Arg. 3rd Corps M. G. Sch. 
Nov. 24-Dec. 24. 1919, Clamecy. Army of Occ. Saar- 
burg, (jcrmany, Jan. 15-Mav 7, l'.)19. Ret. U. S. 
May 22; dis. May 28, 1919. 

(!ir> Ecli^rd'ood R(l., Lake Forest, 111. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



189 




2nd Lieutenant Leslie A. Tracy 

Born Feb. 11, 1896. Accountant. Enl. Tp. B May S, 
1917. Pvt. 1 cl. Aug. 23; cpl. Aug. 27, 1917. Trans. Sp. 
Tr. Bn. Dec. 31, 1918. 1st sgt. Mar. 15, 1918. Trans. 
Art. Sch., Saumur, Aug. 1; comm'd 2d Lt. Oct. 31, 
191S; assigned 123rd Fd. Art., 33rd Div. Dec. 18, 
Army of Occ, Trier, Germany. Ret. U. S. May 15; 
dis. May 29, 1919. Co. B football team. 

56If New Britain Ave., Harlfoni, Conn. 




2nd Lieutenant Ralph S. Butler 

Born Apr. 10, 1891. Ins. agent. Enl. Tp. B June 12, 
1917. Trans, to hosp. from Niantic Oct. 2; in hosp. Cp. 
Devens, Nov. 15-22; trans. 151st Dep. Brigade Nov. 
22; 301st Sup. Tr. Dec. 29. Promoted cpl. R. O. T. C, 
May 15; M. G. Tr. Sch., Cp. Hancock, Ga. June 18. 
Comm'd 2d Lt. Sept. 6, 1918. Trans. 33rd M. G. Bn., 
nth Div., Cp. Meade, Oct. 8. Dis. Jan. 30, 1919. 

ISo Church St., New Haven, Conn. 




COMPANY C 

1st Lieutenant Richard E. Moore 

Born July 4, 1888. Mtna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B 
Mar. 12, 1912. Trans. Tp. L. Apr. 14, 1917. Saddler 

Dec .30, 1912; cpl. Jan. 21, 1916; sgt. Mar. 8, 1917; 1st sgt. Tp. L. May 
.3 1917 Trans. Bn. Hqrs. as ordn. sgt. Oct. 1917. Det. ser Liverpool 
Oct. 23 Bn. baggage detail. Rejoined Nov. 28. Army Cand. bch. 
Langres, Nov. 30-Mar. 1918; Automatic Weapon Sch. Mar.-May, 
1918 French front, Verdun Apr. 1918 for instruction. Comm d 2d Lt. 
Mav'3, 1918; trans. 9th M. G. Bn., 3rd Div., May 20. Aisne Def , 
Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, local operation Fismes, bt.Mihiel, 
Meuse-Arg. Army of Occ. Coblenz area. 1st Lt^ bept 5, 1918. Ret. 
U S Aug 19, 1919 to Cp. Pike, Ark,; Adj. 9th M. G. Bn.; later aid to 
Gen.' Lewis commanding post. Mex. Border, 1916. Recommended for 
Croix de Guerre. Citation: "Ist Lt. Richard E. Moore, Co. D, 9th 
M G Bn. For extraordinary heroism in action. During the terrinc 
bombardment of July 14-1.5, 1918, at Crezancy in the Second Battle ot 
the M-irnc fliis officiT with absohite disregard for his own safety, per- 
sonallv .hiiMtrd the placiiin ..I the inarhine-guiis under his command, 
which' proved U, l)c of ^rcat vahic when the enemy launched their at- 
tack, and which aided materially in turning them back. Later he led 
his platoon across the river and, after assisting in the capture ot Jaul- 
gonne, was ordered to go forward in advance of the infantry tor the 
purpose of routing an enemy machine-gun nest winch was imperting 
the progress of our troops. In the face of a great danger lie aeeoinphslie(l 
his mission, silencing the enemy machine-gun, and, although eoiupletei> 
surrounded at one time, held his position, and delivered such an anni- 
hilating fire, he personally manning one of. the guns, that our troops 
were enabled to continue the advance." 

6 Fales Street. Hartford, Conn. 



190 



History oi- '1'hk 101 si AIaciiine Gun Battalion 




1st Lieutexant Maurice L. Fl'rxi\all 

Born Jan. '2S, 1894. Civ. Engr. Conn. State Highway 
IX'pl. Enl. Tp. B Feb. 16, 191(5. Trans. Tp. L Apr. 14, 
1917. Cpl. May 3. 1917; sgt. July 2, 1917. Chemin des 
Dames. Comm'd 2d Lt. Ordn. Dcpt. Mar. 14, 1918 
and trans, office Ch. of Ordn., Chaumont. Assigned 
Adv. Unit, Ordn. Park, Void, Apr. 20, 1918; later to 
2d Army M. G. & S. A. Center, Void. Promoted 1st 
Lt. Mar. 9, 1919. Ret. U. S. May 22; dis. Mav 29, 
1!)19. Mex. Border, 191(). Co. C football and baseball 
1 rams. 

(!() Fairfield Ave, Ilarljord, Coiiii. 

1st Lieutexaxt E. Saxdersox Cushmax 

Born July 22, 1892. Dept. Supt. Colt's Fire Arms Co. 
Enl. Tp. B Mar. 1, 1915. Trans. Tp. L Apr. 14, 1917. 
Cook Sept. 1, 19 IG; cpl. Dec. 6, 1916; mess sgt. Apr. 
12, 1917; comm'd 1st Lt. Jan. 2, 1918. Trans. 1st 
Div. as M. G. inspector and in command Mob. Ordn. 
Rep. Shop No. 1. Trans. May 6 G. H. Q., Chaiunont, 
asst. to M. G. and S. A. Insp., A. E. F. foul, Chateau- 
Thierry, St. Mihiel and Meuse-Arg. on inspection tours. 
Refused captaincy Mar. 1919 in order to return to U. S. 
Dis. Mar. 14, 1919. Co. C football team. Mex. Border, 
1916. 

HI drove .Si., Xnc Haven, Conn. 







2xD Lieutexaxt Francis A. Christensex 

Born lulv 13, 1894. Clk. Orient Ins. Co., Htfd. Enl. 
Tp. B, "Mar. 30, 1915. Trans. Tp. L. Apr. 14, 1917. 
Cpl. May 3, 1917; sgt. July 2, 1917; 1st sgt. Co. C, 
Oct. 3, 1917. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau- 
Thierry. Amiy Cand. Sch., Langres, Aug. 1, 1918; 2d 
Lt. Sept. 25. Trans. 314th Inf., 79th Div.; Troyon, 
(jrande Montagne, and Meuse-Arg. 3rd Corps Sch., 
Clamecy, Nov. 17-Dec. 17, 1918. Reserve, Armv of 
Occ. Belgium to Feb. 5, 1919. Ret. U. S. Mav 2(); "dis. 
June 2, 1919. Mex. Border, 191(). Co. C football team. 

1.9 Baltimore St., Hartford, Con)i. 

2nd Lieutexaxt Sidnkv \V. Rodda 

Horn Mav 6, 1891. Salesman. Enl. Tp. B Feb. 16. 
1916. Trans. Tp. L Apr. 14, 1917. Cpl. May 3, 1917; 
mess-.sgt. Aug. 1,1917; Bn. sgt.-maj. Apr. 1, 1918. With 
Bn. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Army 
Cand. Sch. Langres, Aug. 1; comm'd 2d Lt. Sept. 25, 
1918. Assigned 314th Inf. 79th Div. Oct. 3; Troyon 
and Meuse-Arg. Army of Occ. Reserve, Belgium. Ret. 
U. S. May 26; dis. June 2. 1919. Mex. Border, 1916. 

(lien Lvon, Pa. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



191 




2nd Lieutenant Ian D. Mackenzie 

Born Nov. 17, 1890, Edinburgh, Scotland. Clk. 
Htfd. Machine Screw Co. Enl. Tp. B Feb. 16, 1916. 
Trans. Tp. L Apr. 14, 1917. Sgt. May 3, 1917. With 
Bn. Chemin des Dames. 1st Corps Sch., Gondrecourt, 
Jan. 3-Feb. 3, 1918. Trans. Amiy Cand. Sch., Langres, 
Apr. 1 ; comm'd 2d Lt. July 9, 1918. Instructor Army 
M. G. Sch. Langres, July 9-Sept. 12. Trans. 89th Div., 
Sept., 1918; St. Mihiel, Meuse-Arg. Gassed Thiau- 
court, Oct. 4. Actg. athletic officer, 89th Div., Jan.- 
Mav, 1919. Ret. U. S. Mav; dis. June 1, 1919. Mex. 
Border, 1916. 

S.3 Gillett St., Hartford, Conn. 




2nd Lieutenant Felix E. Baridon 

Born Feb. 4, 1891. Manufacturing. Enl. Tp. B Feb. 
16. 1916; Trans. Tp. L Apr. 14, 1917. Pvt. 1 cl. Aug. 
1. 1*)17; cpl. Aug. 27, 1917; sgt. Oct. 1, 1918; comm'd 
2d Lt. Oct. 30, 1918. All sectors ex. Meuse-Arg. 
Trans. G. H. O., Chaumont, Oct. 1-30, 1918; 30th 
Div. Nov.. 1918~ G. H. Q., Chaumont, Feb., 1919; 3rd 
Div. Armv of Occ, Coblenz area. Germany, March; 
28th Div. "to U. S.; dis. May 4, 1919. Mex. Border, 
1916. 

JjO Winlhrop St., Torr'nigto)i. Conn. 




2nd Lieutenant William J. Thornton 

Born Dec. 6, 1891. Chief elk.. Conn. State Highway 
Dept. Enl. Tp. L. May 8, 1917. Pvt. Icl Aug. 1, 1917. 
Trans. Hqrs. Co. Aug. 27. All sectors ex. Meuse-Arg. 
Engr. Cand. Sch., Langres, Oct. 1-Dec. 28, 1918; as- 
signed Co. D, 101st Engrs. Jan. 4, 1919. Comm'd 2d 
Lt., Engr. Corps, Mar. 20, 1919. Trans. Co. E, 101st 
Engrs. Ret. U. S. and dis. May 20, 1919. 

353 Prospect Ave., Hartford. Conn. 



192 



History of Tiik 101st Maciiixe Gun Battalion 




Interpreter Leo Edguard Woroxick ("Coi.onel") 

Interpreter assigned to the Battalion from French 
MiUtary Mission to American Army. 

Horn, Paris, May -i. IS.SO. Pearl Ijuyer, Maiiritz, Saks & Co., Paris. 
In Australia when war broke out . Returned to France and joined colors 
Dec. 24, 1914. 31st French Inf. to May, 1910; Sth Engrs. to Oct. 12, 
1917; Sch. for Interpreters to Oct. 20; trans. 162d French Inf., Xeuf- 
chateau Area as interpreter with 101st, 102d, 103rd, and l()4th Am. 
Inf Kcgts. Assigned 101st Bn. Dec. 20, 1917. Trans. Dec. 10, lOl.S to 
hillcting office 3rd Am. Army Coblenz. Dis. Apr. 21, 1919. Continuous 
SI i\ ill' 4 yrs. 3 mos. Awarded Croix de Guerre Jan. 7, 1915 for fur- 
ni-hini; information to Fr. G. H. Q. Discovered two mines were to be 
til 111 under trenches of 31st Fr. Inf. Trenches vacated, resulting in 
.-a\ uiy; ninety lives. Citation: ".5th Corps d'Arni^e, 10th Division 31e 
\iii\. ilTnfanterie, EXTRAIT de I'Ordre du Regiment. Le Lt. Colonel 
Coniniandant le 31e Rgt. d'lnf. cite a I'ordre du regiment le militaire 
dont le nom suit: 

WORONICK, Leo, 2e CI. Mle. 6e Cie. 'A donne comme agent de liai- 
son de nombreuses preuves de courage et de devouenient, et tout spe- 
cialement le 23 Mars 1916 dans I' accomplissement de missions peril- 
leuses, sous un bombardement des plus violents.' 

le 18 Aoiit, 1910. 
le Lt-Colonel Cdt. le Rgt. 
stgne: CUNY" 

79 Ooslcrpark, Amsterdam, Hollaiid. 



Headquarters Company 




Private, First Class, Roy E. Atherton ("Holie") 

Born Dec. 30, 1896. Farmer. Enl. Apr. 15, 1917, 
1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. Trans. Co. A, 101st M. 
G. Bn., Niantic, Aug. 20, 1917. Later trans. Hqrs. 
Co. All sectors. 

Greensboro, Vt. 







Wagoner Henry A. Bennett ("Tiny") 

Born June 28, 1894. Laborer. Enl. July 1, 1917, 1st 
Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Pvt. 1 cl. Aug. 1, 1918; wag. 
Oct. 4, 1918. All sectors. Served with B Co. part of 
time. Det. ser. 101st Supply Train, 1st Anny Hqrs., 
Souilly, Nov. 20-Jan. 20, 1918. 
Lincoln, Vt. 




Wagoner Mario A. Bianchi ("Biank") 

Born June 30, 1895. Hospital attendant. Enl. 1st 
Vt. Inf. lune 18, 1917, Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20. 
1917. Trans. B Co. Apr. 1, 1918 and back to Hqrs. 
Co. in August. All sectors. Gassed Oct. 23, Verdun. 
Hosp. Nov. 3- Dec. 15, 1918. 

1618 Broadway, Piqua, Ohio. 



194 



History of The 101st AIachixe Gun Battalion* 




Sergeant Harrison C. Bracken ("Brack") 

Born June 20, 1S1)3. Priv. Sect'y, JEtna Life Ins. Co. 
Enl. Tp' B Apr. 4, 1917. Trans. Co. C Aug. 22, 1917 as 
Co. elk. Cpl. Aug. 27, 1917. Sgt. Oct. 1, 1918. Trans. 
Hqrs. Co. Oct. 1, 1918, as Personnel Sgt. All sectors. 

S Hubbard PL, Wethersficld, Conn. 




Private Arthur F. Clark ("Ci.arkik") 

Born 1S92. Factory hand. Fnl. Tp. 1) Cav. Conn. 
N. C. New Haven MaV 2, n)17. Trans. Heirs. Co. Aug. 
27, 1917. 

UO Ralston Ave. Whitncxvillc. Conn. 




Wagoner Frank J. Clark ("Hick") 

Born Oct. 16, 1896. Fanner. Enl. June 27, 1917, 1st 
\'t. Inf. Ft. F.than .\llcn. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. All see- 
tors. Del. ser. lOlst Supply Train, 1st Army Hqrs., 
Souilly, Nov. 24 Dec. 10, 19l8. 

Orange, 17. 




Skrgkant Major Rodney G. Dennis ("Rod") 

Bom Sept. 1."), 1896. Student Yale. luil. lune 12, 
1917. Tp. B. Cpl. Aug. 28, 1917; sgt. Aug. 1, 1918; 
Bn. sgt. maj. Oct. 17, 191S. Trans. Bn. Hqrs. Oct. 14. 
All sectors. 

308 W. 82d St., New York, N. Y. 



History of The 101 st Maciiixe Gux Battalion 



195 




Field Clerk Adolph E. Fenselau ("Fen") 

Born July 5. ISOo. Priv. Sect'y Enl. Tp. L. June 5, 
1917. Cpl. May 1, lOlS; sgt. June 1, 1918; fd. clk^May 1, 
1919. Bn. elk. until trans. Sept. 26. 1918 Div. Message 
Center. All Div. sectors. Trans. Jan. 2-1, 1919 Am. 
Commission to Negotiate Peace and later to Provost 
Marshall's Off. Paris. Trans. Aug. 8 as sect'y to Brig.- 
Gen. Bandholtz. Am. Inter-Allied Milit. Mission to 
Hungary. Sent to Budapest where married Elizabeth 
Krenn Jan. 2, 1920. Dis. Feb. 7, \'ienna. Civilian sect'y 
to Col. Causev. Am. Technical Adviser to Austria. Ret. 
U. S. July 16' 1920. 

11 Warroiloii Ave, Hartford, Co)iii. 




"Wagoner Frank L. Folsom ("Folie") 

Born Aug. 2. 1892. Farmer. Enl. June 28. 1917 1st 
Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. All 
sectors. Gassed A'erdun Oct. 23. Det. ser. 101st Supply 
Train, 1st Anny Hqrs., Souilly, Nov. 24-Dec. 10, 1918. 
Served part of time in B Co. 

Tioibriii^c, 17. 




Wagoner Percy L. Griswold ("Perc") 

Born Mar. 22, 1898. Auto mech. Enl. Jtme 30. 1917 
1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. AH 
sectors. Det. ser. 101st M. P. Hqrs. Aug. 28-Sept. S, 
1918: 101st Sup. Train 1st Armv Hqrs., Souillv, Nov. 
24-Jan. 10. 1919. 

Morrisville, 17. 




Private Harold H. Henry ("WHiFriT") 

Bom Nov. 1. 1891. Fanner. Enl. Tune 25, 1917 1st 
Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Trans. Co. A, 101st M. G. 
Bn., Niantic. Aug. 27; later to Co. B; thence to Hqrs. 
Co. All sectors. Det. ser. 101st Supplv Train 1st Armv 
Hqrs., Souilly, Nov. 2-I-Jan. 10, 1918.' 

Morctowii. ]'t. 



196 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Wagoner William Hull ("Bill") 

Born July 25, 1893. Farmer. Enl. lune 22, 1917 1st 
Vt. Inf." Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. All 

sectors. 

Brook Held, 17. 




Wagoner Daniel A. James ("Jim") 

Born Mar. 22, 1890. Landscape gardener. Enl. July 
9, 1917 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20, 
1917. All sectors. 

Anhur)i, Maine. 



Private Andre S. Janet ("Jennie") 

Born Sept. 5, 1891. Architectural draftsman. Enl. 
May 8, 1917 Tp. B. Trans. Ordn. Det. Hqrs. Co. Sept. 
25, 1917. All sectors. 

h'M Albany Ave., Haiiford. (.'oiin. 




I 



Cook John P. Kipp ("Kipper") 

Born Mar. 20, 1884. Married. Carpenter. Enl. Aug. 
9, 1910 1st Vt. Inf. as cook. Trans, from Co. B Dec. 
21, 1917. Sk. in hosp. England Oct. 1917. Rejoined 
Dec. Det. ser. Rimaucourt as cook Bn. baggage detail. 
Rejoined Mar. 19 IS. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. 
Mex. Border, 1910. 

57 Beaeli Si.. Henniiiy^ton. 17. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



197 




Wagoner Malcolm MacAskill ("Scotty") 

Born Mar. 14, 1892. Granite cutter. Enl. June 27, 
1917 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. 
All sectors. 

Granitevillc, Vt. 



Wagoner John MacDonald, Jr. ("Jake") 

Born Mar. 23, 1894. Granite cutter. Enl. June 27, 
1917 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. 
All Sectors. 

Springfield, Vt. 



Wagoner Henry E. McCann ("Faithful Phil") 

Born July 31, 1896. Chauffeur. Enl. Niantic Aug. 1, 
1917. Wag. Nov. 2, 1917. Det. ser. as driver in Div. 
Hqrs. Toul Sector. All sectors. 

43 Clinton St., So. Manchester, Conn. 



0^ 



Wagoner Donald McDonald ("Mac") 

Born June 4, 1895. Granite cutter. Enl. June 2, 1917 
1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. All 
sectors. Det. ser. 101st Supply Train, 1st Army Hqrs., 
Souilly, Nov. 24-Jan. 10, 1919. 

9 Bassctt St., Barre, Vt. 



198 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Wagoner William W. Menard ("Frog") 

Born July 15, 1894. Laborer. Enl. June 1, 1917 1st 
Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. All sec- 
tors. 

Bdrn\ Vt. 



i 



Wagoner Collies B. JNIillard ("Coll.") 

Born April 8. 1893. Farmer. Enl. May 27, 1917 1st 
Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20. 1917. All sec- 
tors. 

Morrisvillc, 17. 




Wagoner Daniel O. Nash ("Dan") 

Born Jan. 22, 1892. Paper maker. Enl. [ulv 25. 1917 
1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan AUen. Wag. Aug. 20,'l917. All 
sectors. 

Keene, N. H. 



^^ 



v ■^■♦' ^ 



i 



Private, First Class, Samuel C. Neiburg 
("Cease") 

Born Jan. 6, 1897. Student. Enl. Nov. 18, 191() M. G. 
Co. 1st Vt. Inf. St. Albans. All sectors. Det. ser. Div. 
Hqrs., Montigny, Dec. 11-Jan. 7, 1919. Bn. baseball 

team. 

41 federal SI., St. Alhaius, 17. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



199 



Corporal Albert Newman ("Gus") 

Born Nov. 2, 1891. Accountant. Enl. Apr. 26, 1917 
Tp M, 3rd Sqdn. Conn. Cav. New Haven. Trans. 
Niantic to Hqrs. Co. Cpl. Dec. 6, 1918. All sectors. 
Bn. motor-cycle messgr. 2d Corps Sch., Signal Sec, 
Chatillon, Dec. 22-Feb. 6, 1919. 

377 Ellsworth Ave., New Haven, Conn. 



Sergeant Dudley M. North ("Dud") 

Born Oct. 12, 1894. Married July 26, 1917. Mach., 
New Haven Screw Co. Enl. June 23, 1916 Tp. A., 
C N. G., New Haven. Pvt. Icl June 22, 1917. Trans. 
Ordn. Det., Hqrs. Co. Sept. 25, 1917. Ordn. sgt. May 
211918. All sectors. 2d Corps Sch., Signal Sec, Chat- 
illon Dec. 22-Feb. 6, 1919. Mex. Border, 1916. 

136 Derby Ave., New Haven, Conn. 





Private James R. Phillips ('-Rookie") 

Born Aug. 26, 1895. Paper maker. Enl. Jime 16, 
1917 M. G. Co. 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. All sectors. 
Wounded and gassed Verdun Oct. 27. Bn. motor-cycle 
messgr. Attached Div. Hqrs. for a time as messgr. 

36 Elm Si., Norwood, N. Y. 



Wagoner Peter Picket ("Pete") 

Born July 29, 1894. Farmer. Enl. 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. 
Ethan Allen June 24, 1917. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. All 
sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. Wounded Oct. 23 Ver- 
dvm; hosp. Mesves, Neuf chateau, Chateauroux. Re- 
joined Bn. Pvlar. 22, 1919. Served part of time in C Co. 

Randolph, Vt. 



200 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Private John Roberts ("Jicky") 

Born Jan. 21, 1895. Farmer. Enl. June 23, 1917, 1st 
Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. All sectors. Served in Co. C 
Apr. 1, 1918-Feb. 15, 1919. Det. ser. 101st Supply 
Train, 1st Army Hqrs., Souilly, Nov. 24-Jan. 10. 1919. 

Brookjicid, 17. 




Wagoner Harry E. Smith ("Rusty") 

Born Dec. 31, 1886. Blacksmith. Enl. June 26, 1917 
M. G. Co., 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Trans. D Co. 
101st M. G. Bn. Aug. 27, 1917. Wag. Sept. 24, 1917. 
Trans, from Co. D, 103d M. G. Bn. Jan. 14, 1918. All 
sectors. Det. ser. Div. Hqrs. as motor-cycle messgr. 
Nov. 17, 1918-Feb. 15, 1919. 

52 Kellogg St., Portland. Mc. 



'> 


■ H 


:2 


i 


k} 


I lL_i , 



Sergeant Major Urson W. Smith ("Ration") 

Born Dec. 10, 1892. Toolmaker. Enl. May 2. 1917 
Tp. A, C. N. G., New Haven. Pvt. 1 cl. Apr. 1 1918; 
cpl. Nov. 11, 1918; Bn. supply sgt. with rank sgt. maj., 
Dec. 6, 1918. All sectors. 

Millers FalLs, Mass. 



-/xt -^ 



Private John W. Sullivan ("Sullie") 

Born 1S99. Machinist. Enl. Apr. 16, 1917 Tp. D, 
C. N. G., New Haven. Trans. Ordn. Det., Hqrs. Co., 
Sept. 25, 1917. 

£15 Humphrey St., New Haven, Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



201 




Private Ancel L. Turcotte ("Turk") 

Born Oct. 29, 1898. Machinist. Enl. Nov. 16, 1916 
M. G. Co. 1st Vt. Inf. St. Albans. All sectors. Det. 
ser. Div. Hqrs. Sept. 1-Nov. 11, 1918. 

36 Walnut St., St. Albans, Vt. 




Sergeant George A. Williams ("Father") 

Born Nov. 25, 1882. Asst. at Tp. B Armory. Enl. 
Mar. 8, 1911 Tp. B. Trans. Tp. L. Apr. 14, 1917; to 
Hqrs. Co., Aug. 20, 1917. Stable sgt. May 21, 1917; 
All sectors. Gassed Verdun Oct. 25; hosp. Le Mans 
Oct. 27-Nov. 7, 1918. Mex. Border, 1916. M. G. Co., 
1st Inf. Conn. N. G. 1905-1908. 

180 Benton St., Hartford, Conn. 



Sanitary Detachment 








Cook William G. B. Angermann ("Dutch") 

Born Sept. 16, 1892. Mechanic. Enl. June 20, l!>lfi, 
1st Conn. Amb. Co., Htfd. Trans. 3rd Sqdn. Conn. 
Cav. July 25, 1917. Trans. Feb. 1, 1918, 104th Amb. 
Co., 26th Div. All sectors. Gassed Mandres April 20; 
hosp. Tours to July 5th. Ret. U. S. with Div.; dis. 
April 29, 1919. Mex. Border, 1916. 

Address unkninvn. 




Private Ernest E. Anderson" ("Whitie") 

Born April 7, 1896. Piano-tuner. Enl. Oct. 1917. 
Tr. Cp. Taylor. Arr. France April Sth. Joined Bn. 
Julv. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames and Toul. Sk. 
in hosp. Bordeaux Oct. 24, 1918. Ret. U. S. Dec. 9; dis. 
Jan. 27, 1919. 

4iJ Obcrrick St., LaPoiie, Ind. 



Private Nemire Craft 

Joined Bn. Etrochey, Aug. 1918. Trans. 102(1 Amb. 
Co. Sept. 11. St. Mihiel, Troyon and Mcuse-Arg. 
Address iDikmnvu. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



203 




Private, 1st Class, Harry J. Crompton ("Lenme") 

Born July 26, 1895. Shoe-cutter. Enl. April 21. 1917, 
Fd. Hosp. No. 1, N. H. N. G. Manchester. Arr. France 

Oct. 5; joined Bn. Jan. 21, 1918. All sectors. Citation: "The Division 
Commander takes great pleasure in citing in orders the following named 
officers and men who have shown marked gallantry and meritorious 
service in the capture of Torcy, Belleau. Givrv, Bouresches Woods 
Rochet Woods, Hill 190 overlooking Chateau-thicrrv, Etrepilly, Be- 
zuet, Epieds, Trugny and La Fere Woods to the .laulgonne — Fere-en- 
Tardenois Road, during the advance of this Division against the enemy 
from July 18th to 2.5th, 1918, in the Second Battle of the .Marne. 

PRiv.tTE, 1st Cl.\ss, Harry Crompton, Med. Det., 101st M. G. Bn. 



R. Edw.\rds 

Major General, Commandinn" 




Jfi Walnut St., Nashua, N. H. 



Private, 1st Class, Ernest A. Crossland ("Ernie") 

Born Jan. 23, 1895. Married. Student, dentistry. 
Enl. July 25, 1917, 5th Mass. Inf., N. G., Charleston. 
Arr. France Oct. 23; joined Bn. Dec. 6th. Trans. Feb. 
5, 1918, 101st Sanit. Train; 103rd F. A.; 102d Fd. Hosp. 
Rejoined Bn. Nov. 24, 1918. 

66 Colby St., Bradford, Mass. 



Private, 1st Class, Edward R. Curran ("Ed.") 

Born March 21, 1896. Student. Enl. Aug. 23, 1917, 
Niantic. Trans. Div. Fd. Lab. Dec. 27, 1917; Med 
Det., Co. I, 104th Inf. Aug. 1918. All sectors. Gassed 
Verdun Oct. 28; hosp. Bordeaux. Ret. U. S. Dec. 9; 
hosp. Cp. Merritt; dis. Jan. 9, 1919. 

195 Fairview St., New Britain, Conn. 




Private Elias B. Denison ("Agent") 

Born May 2, 1886. Married. Hotel elk. Enl. Co. B 
Aug. 23, 1917, Niantic. Sk. in hosp. Oct. 3, 1917. Arr. 
France Jan. 22, 1918; joined Bn. June, 1918. Trans. Bn. 
San. Det. Sept. 1918. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames 
and Toul. 16th U. S. Inf. 1904-1907; U. S. Hosp. Corps 
1909-1912. 

288 Trumbull St., Hartford, Conn. 



204 



History of Tiik lOlsr Machink (Un l^Arr.M.ioN 






Private, 1st Class, Jewell W. Cjodard 

Bom Nov. 20. ISi):-;. Clk. Aetna LitV Ins. Co. Enl. 
Aug. 23, 1917, Niantic. Pvt. 1st cl. 13ec. 4, 1917. Trans. 
Dec. 27 to Div. Fd. Lab. All Div. sectors. Sk. in hosp. 
Jan. 15-Feb. 8, 1!)!!). Ret. U. S. and dis. April 20, 1010. 

North Granby, Conn. 



l'in\ATE, 1st Class, Chaklks '1'. Inc.krsoll ("Doc") 

Horn Sept. 22. 1S90. Married. Clk. KnL lune 29, 
1917, Isl Hy. Fd. Art., Me. N. G. Arr. France Oct. 30, 

I'.tlT; joined Bii. .livii. 2L All sectors. Classed north Chateau-Thierry 
.Inly 2.'); hosp. to .\uK 2."). Citation: "The Division Commander takes 
t;reat pleasure in eitint; in onlers the foMowini; named officers and men 
wlio liave shown marked tiallantrv and meritorious servi<'e in the cap- 
ture of Tori'y. Helleau. Oivry. Houresclies Woods, Rochet Woo.ls, Hill 
l!l() ov<'rl()okin(; Chateau-Thierry. l';trei)illy. Hezuet, lOpieds, Tru«ny. 
and La l'"erc Woods to the .lault;onn( — Fere-en-Tardenois Road, diuinc 
the advance of this Division against the enemv from .luly LSth to 2oth, 
I'.IIS. in Ihe Second Battle of the Marne. 



I'liiN \i'K. 1st Ci..\ss. CiiAui.Ks iNdKHsoi.t.. Mk». Dkt. lOlsT M.C.Bn. 

(' R Kdw.msds 

Miijor General, Comnianiliiid" 

IS Brhnonl Si.. PorlLuid. .1/c. 



I'RDAri;. 1st Class. Eugene F. Kelly ("CiEXE") 

Born April 24, 1S94. Sales clk. Enl. June 22, lOlC 
1st Conn. Amb. Co., N. G. Trans. 3rd Sqdn. Conn. 
Cav. July 25, 1917. Trans. 101st Amb. Co., 26th Div. 
Feb. i, 191,S. All Div. sectors. Ret. U. S. April 17; dis. 
April 30, 1919. Mex. Border 1910. 

20 Bium'H St., Hartford, Conn. 

Sergeant, 1st Class, Edward J. Kenefick ("Eddie") 

Born June 23, 1893. Phamiacist. Enl., April 5, 1912, 
l.st Conn. Amb. Co.. Htfd. Sgt. Aug. 31. 1917: sgt. 1st 

d. April '), li)lS. Trans. 3nl Sqdn. Conn. Cav. July 2.5, 1017. All sec- 
tors. Classed Verdun Oct. 23. Mex. Bonier. 101(1. Citation: "The 
Division Comin.mder takes ^reat pleasure in citinj; in orders the follow- 
ing named officers and men who have shown marked sallantry and mer- 
itorious service in the capture of Torev, Belleau, Givrv, Boiireschcs 
Woods, Rochet Woods. Hill 100 overlooking Chateau-Thierry. Etre- 
pilly. Be/.uet, IO))ieds, TruKii.v and La F'ere VVooils to the Jaulgonne — 
I'ere-en-Tardenois Koad, durins the ailvanco of tliis Diyision against 
the enemy from July LSth to 2.')th, lOlS, in the .Second Battle of the 
.Marne. 

Skuok.wt, 1st Ci..\!<s. ED\v.\un .1. Kf.nkuck, Mko. Dkt. 10 1st M tl Bx. 

C. R. Ed\v.\rds 

Major General. Commandiny" 

IS Enfield St.. Hartford, Conn. 



History of 



II v. 



lOlsT IMaciiink Gun Battalion 



205 




Skkgeant Gerald (). King ("(}ekry") 

liorn April 21, ]8!)8. Textile worker. Enl. Jan. 1917 
1st S(|(ln. Mass. Cav., Boston. Tr. Framingham, Mass. 
Joined Bn. Niantic Sept. 1!)17. Trans. l()2d M. G. Bn. 
Jan. 191cS. All sectors. Wounded and gassed north 
Chateau-Thierry July 19. Shell wound Verdun Oet. 29; 
hosp. Mesvcs and Royat. Ret. U. S. and dis. May, 1919. 

\\'or( cslcr Ril., /u-(ii>iiiii^//itiii, Afdss. 




Sergeant Arthur J. Kinley ("Gimme") 

Born Nov. 11, 1S91. Enl. 101st Engrs. M. N. G., 
Boston, July 25, 1917. Arr. overseas Oct. 9; joined Bn. 
Feb. (), 191 S. All sectors. Trans, to duty Base 82, Con- 
trcxeville; later office Ch. Surg. Tours. Sk. in hosp. 
Vittel. Sgt. Feb. 22, 1919. Ret. U. S. May 22; dis. May 
27, 1919. 

29 Nor III SI., Sloiir/nim, Mass. 





Private Herman B. Levin ("Pop") 

J]orn IX'c. 23, 1SS9. Box-office elk. Enl. [uly 10, 
1917 1st Hy. Fd. Art., Me. N. G., Portland. Joined Bn. 
Sept. 17, 1917 Niantic. All sectors. 

Citation: "Tlic Division Comniantlor takes Ki'cat pleasure in citing 
in orders the following named offieers and men who have shown marked 
gallantry and meritorious service in the capture of Torcy, Belleau, 
Givry, jiourescluw Woods, Hochct Woods, II ill 190 overlooking Chft- 
teau-Thierry, lOtrepilly, Bezuet, FOpiods, Trngny :in<l La FfTC Woods 
to the Jaulgonnc— F(^re-en-Tardenois Road during the advance of this 
Division against the enemy from .July LSth to 2.")th, 1918, in the Second 
Hattlc of the Marne. 

I'mvATK llioFtMAN H. Lkvin, Mei), Det., IOIbt M. G. Bn. 



C. R. Edwards 

Major General, Commandinij" 



S/) Mhnilir St.. /'oii/ainl, Me. 



i^RivATE 1st Class William G. Mallard ("Red") 

Born Pel:). 13, 1895. Trained nunse. Enl. June 22, 
191(), 1st Amb. Co. Mass. N. G., Boston. Joined Bn. 
Sept. 17, 1917, Niantic. Trans. 102d M. G. Bn., San. 
Det., Feb. 1, 1918. All sectors. Mex. Border, 191G. 

in/! Dusliii SI., Brii^hloii, Mass. 



206 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



Private 1st Class Harry V. McDermott 

Joined Bn. Etrochey Aug. 1918. Trans 102d Amb. 
Co., Sept. 11. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 
Address unknown. 




Sergeant Herbert Ratenburg ("Rats") 

Born June 12, 1897. Married. Clk. Aetna Life Ins. 
Co. Enl. Tune 22, 1917 1st Amb. Co. C. N. G. Trans. 
3rd Sqdn. Conn. Cav. July 25, 1917. Sgt. April 5, 1918. 
All sectors. Shell wound July 22; gassed July 25, north 
Chateau -Thierry; hosp. Vittel, to Aug. 27. Cited in 
Div. orders and awarded D. S. C: "On July 22, 1918, 
Sgt. Herbert Ratenburg, in charge of the medical de- 
tachment of this Battalion accompanying Company B 
followed the attact and, although wounded in three 
places, continued in the attack, dressing the wounded 
men of the Battalion as they fell. Again on July 25, 
Sgt. Ratenburg, although suffering severely from the 
gas fumes of a high explosive shell, continued on his 
duties and dressed the wounded men of the Battalion. 
After he had completed his duties it was necessary to 
evacuate him." The Cross awarded Div. orders, Oct. 
10, 1918. 

Uf^E. Turnpike, So. Manchester, Conn. 




Private Harold P. Saurman ("Doc") 

Born Jan. 7, 1898. Student. Enl. March 29, 1917 2d 
Amb. Co., Mass. N. G., Boston. Joined Bn. Niantic, 

Sept. 17, 1917. Trans. Feb. 1. 1918 San. Oct., 102d M. G. Bn. All sec- 
tors. Gassed July 23 north Chateau-Thierry. Ret. V . S. April 17; dis. 
May 29. 1919. Cited Aug. 31, 1918: "The Diyision Commander takes 
great pleasure in eiting in orders the following named officers and men 
who have shown marked gallantry and meritorious seryice in the cap- 
ture of Torey, Belleau, Givry, liouresches Woods. Rochet Woods, Ilill 
190 oyerlooking Chateau-Thierry. Etrei)illy, Bezuet, Epieds, Trugny 
and La Fere Woods to the Jaulgonne — Fere-en-Tardenois Road, during 
the advance of this Division again.st the enemy from July ISih to 2')th, 
1918, in the Second Battle of the Marne. 

I'riv.\tk H.\rolu p. S.\urm.\n, Mkd. Det., 102d M. G. B.\. 



C. R. Edw.\iu>s 

Major General, Commanding" 

D. S. C. awarded March 18, 1919: "Private Harold P. Saurman, 
San. Det., 102d M. G. Bn. For extraordinary heroism in action near 
Trugny, France, 22-23 July, 1918. Private Saurman displayed remark- 
able courage in going out under lieavy machine-gun and artillery fire, 
giving aid to wounded soldiers anti carrying them back to the dressing 
stations. 

Harry C. Hale 
Major General, Commanding" 



21 Berwick Road, Medford, Mass. 



History of The 101st Machine Gux Battalion 



207 




Private, 1st Class, Anthony W. Telesca 
("Murphy") 

Born June 20, 1893. Steamfitter. Enl. June 23, 1916 
1st Amb. Co., C. X. G., Htfd. Trans. 3rd Sqdn. Conn. 
Cav. July 25, 1917. All sectors. Gassed Verdun Oct. 29. 

Citation: "The Division Commander is pleased to cite in orders the 
following named men who by their brave and courageous conduct 
under fire, at and near Brabant, north of Verdun, between October 
18 and 26, 1918, have proved their right to this honor. 

Private, 1st Class, Anthony W. Telesca, Sax. Det., 101st M. G. Bn. 



R. Edwards 
Major General, Commandiny" 



46 E. Albert St., Torrington, Conn. 




Private, 1st Class, Ernest J. Utzig ("Ernie") 

Bom Mar. 3, 1894. Printer, Case, Lockwood & 
Brainard Co., Htfd. Enl. April 13, 1915, 1st Amb. Co. 

C. N. G., Htfd. Trans. 3rd Sqdn. Conn. Cav. Julv 2.5, 1917. Trans. 
Div. Fd. Lab. Dec. 28, 1917; later to Sanit. Det., 103rd M. G. Bn. 
Citation: "The following named officers and men who displayed marked 
gallantry and performed services of extraordinary value during opera- 
tions of this Division north of Verdun, between Oct. IS and Nov. 11, 
1918, are congratulated by the Di\asion Commander and are hereby 
cited in orders. 



Priv.vte, 1st Class, Ernest J. Utzig, S.*.n. Det. 103rd M. G. Bn. 



C. R. Edwards 

Major General, Commanding" 



15 Park St., Hartford, Conn. 



Company B 
i2i 







T 




Private, 1st Class, E. Whith.ksey Abbe ("Abie") 

Born March 29, 1898. Adjuster Aetna Life Ins. Co. 
Enl. Tp. B April 25, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Aug. 27, 1917. 
All sectors. Gassed Verdun Oct. 26th; hosp. Monpont 
to Dec. 24th. Ret. U. S. Jan. 6th; dis. Jan. 31, 1919. 

riS S/<iinlis/i S/., Ilarljord, Conn. 



Private George A. Adkixs ("Two-gun Pete") 

Born Feb. IS, 1895. Coal miner. Dft. May 25, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Lee, Va. Arr. France Aug. 1918; joined Bn. 
Aug. 31st. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Mcuse-Arg. 

Uinton, W . Va. 



Private Louis Agkifolio ("Aggravation") 

Born Sept. 8, 1894. Fireman. Dft. Dec. 6, 1917. Tr. 
Cp. Upton 306th Inf. Arr. France March 1918; joined 
Bn. June 6th. All sectors ex. Chcmin des Dames. 

Iliilbcrton, N. Y. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



209 







-9- «:;: 




Sergeant Major William A. Allen ("Billy") 

Born June 29, 1890. Clk. Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. B June 19, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Oct. 15, 1917. 
Trans. Q. M. Dept., Div. Hqrs. Nov. 9, 1917. Sgt.-maj. 
April 15, 1918. All Div. sectors. Dis. April 19, 1919. 

54 Fairfield St., So. Manchester, Conn. 



Private Carroll E. Anair ("Frog") 

Born June 10, 1899. Student. Enl. 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. 
Ethan Allen, July 1, 1917. All sectors ex. Meuse-Arg. 
Sk. in hosp. Oct 18-Dec. 2, 1918. 

Greensboro, Vt. 



Bugler Francis T. Aninger ("Snucks") 

Born Dec. 31, 1898. Printer, Case, Lockwood & 
Brainard Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. B April 18, 1917. Bugler 
May 26, 1917. All sectors. 

Troop B Armory, West Hartford, Conn. 



•V 



Wagoner Winslow H. Arnold ("Winnie") 

Born Nov. 3, 1898. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. B April 25, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Aug. 27, 1917; wag. 
March 1, 1918. All sectors. 

5S3 Prospect Ave., Hartford, Conn. 



210 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Bugler Robert E. Austin ("Bob") 

Born April 7, 1898. Toolmaker, Hart & Hegeman Co., 
Htfd. Enl. 1st Conn. Sig. Bn. Htfd. May 11, 1915. 
Cpl. April 3, 1917. Trans. Tp. B April 17, 1917 as pvt. 
Bugler May 20, 1917. All sectors. Mex. Border, Sig. 
Bn., 1916. 

71 A Edwards St., 11 a li ford. Conn. 



Sergeant Westell R. Avery ("Mother") 

Born Oct. 8, 1894. Clk., Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. 
B Niantic, Aug. 20, 1917. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Dec. 31, 
1917; apptd. sgt. in charge Orthopedic Dept. records. 
Ret. U. S. March 8th; dis. March IS, 1919. 

75 Cabot St., Hartford, Coiui. 



^^ 



'"^^^ 



Cook Douglas T. Ball ("Tracy") 

Born May 12, 1896. Mill hand. Enl. June 29, 1917, 
1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Pvt. 1st class, April 1, 
1918; cook Sept. 1, 1918. All sectors. 

East Concord, T7. 




Private Charles C. Ballard ("Big Boy") 

Born Jan. 15, 1890. Farmer. Dft. May 29, 1918. Tr. 
Cp. Beauregard, La., 142d M. G. Bn.A rr. France Sept. 
3, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 11. 

Amite, La. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



211 







Wagoner Arthur W. Bandy ("Plough-jockey") 

Born June 3, 1897. Farmer. Enl. June 27, 1917, 1st 
Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Dec. 31, 
1917; rejoined Bn. March 27, 191S. All sectors ex. 
Chemin des Dames. Wag. Nov. 6, 1918. 

East Barnet, Vt. 




Mess Sergeant George E. Bannister ("Banny") 

Born June 26, 1890. Asst. State editor, Hartford 
Times. Enl. Tp. B Feb. 15, 1916. Cpl. May 1, 1917; 
mess sgt. May 25, 1917. Sk. in hosp. April 25-May 3, 
1918. All sectors. At Kings College Univ. of London, 
March 3-July 5, 1919. Ret. U. S. July 27th; dis. Aug. 
1, 1919. Mex. Border, 1916. 

Care of Mrs. George Old, Bradley Park, Meriden, Conn. 



Sergeant William I. Barber ("Bill") 

Born Jan. 20, 1887. Agent, Am. Ry. Exp. Co., Htfd. 
Enl. Niantic, Sept. 29, 1917. Wag. June 1, 1918; sgt., 
Co. motor train, Sept. 1, 1918. Shell wound July 22, 
north Chateau-Thierry. All sectors. Sk. in hosp. Nan- 
tes Dec. 26-Peb. 11, 1919. Invalided U. S. Feb. 24th; 
dis. March 13, 1919. 

Am. Ry. Express Co., New London, Conn. 




Private Charles T. Barbour ("Barb") 

Born March 9, 1895. House painter. Enl. July 12, 
1917, 2d Inf. Miss. N. G. Tr. Cps. Jackson and Beaure- 
gard,' 142 M. G. Bn. Arr. France Sept. 3rd; joined Bn. 
Dec. 11, 1918. 

Gulf port, Miss. 



212 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Private Albert A. Baril ("Barrie") 

Born April 7, 1894. Carpenter. Enl. June 22, 1917, 
Co. D 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. 
Dec. 31, 1917. Rejoined Bn. March 29, 1918. All sec- 
tors ex. Chemin des Dames. Gassed Oct. 28, Verdun. 
Trans, to hosp. Rejoined Dec. 28. 

11 Maple St., St. Johnsbury, 17. 




Wagoner Arthur A. Barlow ("Huntin") 

Born Aug. 10, 1895. Farmer. Enl. April 2, 1917, 
1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Pvt. 1st cl. Aug. 8, 1917; 
wag. Aug. 20, 1917, Trans, from Bn. Hqrs. All sectors. 
Wounded Verdun Oct. Det. ser. 101st Supply Train 
March, 1919. Sk. in hosp. Brest April 5-22, 1918. 
Ret. U. S. May 15; dis. May 17, 1919. 

Watcrhww Vt. 



^ik/- 




Wagoner Howard S. Barnes ("Barxsie") 

Born vSept. 27, 1894. Shoemaker. Dft. May 13, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga. Arr. France Aug.; joined Bn. 
Sept. 5. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Wag. Nov. 8, 
1918. Trans. 101st Supply Train, Div. Hqrs., Nov. 14. 
Ret. U. S. April 18; dis. April 29, 1919. 

765 State St., Port Dirkensoji, N. V. 




Private Anthony Barrella ("Tony") 

I5orn Nov. 14, 1891. Mason. Dft. Dec. 6. 1917. Tr. 
Cp. Upton N. Y. Arr. France March 20, 1918; joined 
Bn. June 6. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. 

11.).; liOth St., Brooklyn. X . Y. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



213 




rs. m. 



Private Harold A. Beach ("Beachie") 
Born Nov 26, 1893. Married. jMachinist. Enl. Sept. 
29, 1917 Niantic. All sectors. 
2 Federal St., Bristol, Conn. 




r.J=»«?^ 






Private, 1st Class, Cleon A. Bell ("Cloche") 

Born Jan. 28, 1890. Clk. Landers, Frary & Clark Co., 
New Britain. Enl. Tp. B May 28, 1917. Pvt. 1st cl. 
Oct. 15, 1917. All sectors. 

71 Francis St., New Britain, Conn. 



Jfe 




Wagoner Lindley B. Bicknell ("Bick") 

Born April 19. 1898. Chauffeur. Enl. 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. 
Ethan Allen, June 29, 1917. Pvt. 1st cl. July, 1917; 
wag. March 1, 1918. All sectors. 

Lincoln, Vt. 



Private Geary Biddle ("Biddie") 

Born April 30, 1895. Factory hand. Dft. May 28, 
1918. Tr. Cp. Lee, Va. Arr. France Aug. 6, 1918; joined 
Bn. Sept. 16. Troyon and Meuse-Arg. 

R. F. D. No. 1, Bedford, Pa. 



214 lIisroKv OF TiiK 101st Maciiink Gun Battalion 



Private Anthony A. Bittnkk, Jk. ("Dutch") 

Born Aprill7, 1891. Printer. Uft. Jan. 2, 1918. Tr. 
'^'^ > Cp. Upton, N. Y. Arr. France March 20, 1918; joined 

Bn. June 6. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. 
176 Montrose Ave., Brooklyn. N. Y. 




J^^ 







dpTCn 



i 



Private Harry Blumk ("Hula-hula") 

liorn Sept. 15, 1888. Married. Waiter. Dft. Oct. 9, 
1917. Tr. Cp. Upton. Arr. France, March 20; joined 
Bn. June G. All .sectors ex. Chemin des Dames and Toul. 

34.i W. 15th St., New York, N. Y. 



Cook Jcjhn j. Bokdickkr ("Johnny") 

lk)rn April 4, 1895. Cook. Enl. as cook. 1st Vl. Inf. 
April 28, 1917, Ft. Ethan Allen. Assigned Bn. Hqrs. 
at Niantic; trans. B Co. Dec. 21, 1917. Det. ser. as 
cook, Bn. (Ictachment at French M. G. vSch., Chatenois 
Nov. 25 Dec. 10, 1917. All sectors. 

ISJ Madison Ave., New York, N. Y. 



Private Samuel P. Bostater ("Sam") 

Born Mar. 25, 1891. Farmer. Dft. May 25, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Zachary Taylor, Ky., and Cp. Beauregard, La. 
142d M. C. Bn. Arr France Sept. i^; ioined Bn. Dec. 11. 
1918. 

Brxtui, Ohio. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



215 




Private Harry Bostow 

Born Sept. 10, 1888. Laborer. Dft. xMay 10, 1918- 
Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 4; joined Bn. Sept- 
8. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Gassed Verdun 
Oct. 29; hosp. to Dec. 11. 

R. F. D. 2, Ruso, N. D. 




Sergeant Benjamin A. Bourn ("Ben") 

Born Sept. 28, 1894. Clk., Colt Mfg. Co. Enl. Tp. B 
April 18, 1917. Pvt. 1st cl. July 1, 1917; cpl. Aug. 27, 
1917; sgt. Aug. 1, 1918. All sectors. Co. and Bn. base- 
ball teams. 

430 Prospect Ave, Hartford, Conn. 




Wagoner William S. Bourn, Jr. ("Bill") 

Born June 14, 1893. Plumber. Enl. Aug. 21, 1917 
Niantic. Pvt. 1st cl. Oct. 1, 1917; wag. March 1, 1918. 
Chemin des Dames, Toul. Sk. in hosp. Vichy, Monpont 
and Savenay, April 26-Sept. 12, 1918. Trans. P. W. E. 
Co. 28 St. Pierre de Corps. Ret. U. S. Jan. 21; dis. 
Feb. 12, 1919. 

2 Howard Court, Biirnside, Conn. 




Sergeant Elmer G. Brackett ("Big Boy") 

Born Aug. 30, 1898. Student. Enl. Oct. 17, 1916, M. 
G. Co., 1st Vt. Inf., St. Albans. Cpl. April 3, 1917; sgt. 
July 8, 1917. All sectors ex. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse- 
Arg. Wounded north Chateau-Thierry July 22; hosp. 
to Dec. 18, 1918, Chaumont, Mesves, Pougues-les- 
Eaux, Nevers. Trans. Co. H, 101st Inf. Jan. 1919. Det. 
ser., 101st Inf. Hqrs. month of Feb. Co. football and 
baseball teams; 101st Inf. football team. Dis. April 28, 
1919. 
Metropolitan Police Force, Central Station, Detroit, Mich. 



216 



History of Tiik IOIst Machine Gun Battalion 




Pki\ate Clarence R. Brady ("Coxnie") 

Bom Jan. 17, 189S. Student. Enl. Tp. B Aug. 19, 
1917 Niantic. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Jan. 9, 1918. Rejoined 
Bn. March 2(3. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. 
Gassed Verdun Oct. 27; hosp. Bordeaux. Invalided U. 
S. Dec. 24, 191S; Cp. Merritt to Jan. IS. Dis. Ian. 27, 
1919. 

J I', Wdsl/iiiiiloii SI., Xrw Brila'ni. Conn. 




Pri\'ate John Breeze ("Jack") 

Born Nov. 7, 1891. Ironworker. Dft. May 11, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock, and Mayet, Fr. Arr. France August 
9; joined Bn. Sept. 8. St. Mihiel. Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 

J 4 Commerce St., Scotia, N. Y. 



Private, 1stCl.,Trueman W. Brewer ("Old Timer") 

Born July 17, 1892. Laborer. Enl. Jan. ::;(), 1916. 
1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. All sectors. Mcx. Border, 
1910. 

Si. Jolinsbury Coiirr, 17. 




r 



CokPoKAi, HAkoi.u J. Hrickley ("Brick") 

Born Oct. 8, 1896. Student. Trinitv Coll. Enl. Tp. B 
May 1, 1917. Pvt. 1st cl. Oct. IT), 19'l7; wag. March 1, 
1918; cpl. Dec. 1, 1918. All sectors. Co. and Bn. base- 
ball teams; Co. football team. 

Jcivcll Cil\\ Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



217 



1 



Corporal Garold Briggs ("Brigsie") 

Born Feb. 8, 1897. Laborer. Enl. Co. D 1st Vt. Inf. 
Feb. 21, 1916. Pvt. 1st class, Aug. 1, 1918; cpl. Oct. 17, 
1918. All sectors. Shell wound Oct. 23, Verdun. Mex. 
Border, 1916. 

165 Railroad St., St. Jolnishitrw Vt. 




i 








Corporal Brainerd W. Brown ("Brownie") 

Born July 9, 1894. Clk. Enl. Tp. B May 21, 1917. 
Pvt. 1st class July 15, 1918; cpl. April 3, 1919. All sec- 
tors. Trans. Hqrs. Tp., 26th Div., Sept. 16, 1918. Ret. 
U. S. April 4; dis. April 29, 1919. 
WO Shuttle Meadow Ave., New Britain, Conn. 



Private Homer F. Brown ("Brownie") 

Born April 5, 1897. Farmer. Enl. Co. C, 1st Vt. Inf., 
Ft. Ethan Allen, June 22, 1917. Trans, from Bn. Hqrs. 
to Co. B April 1, 1918. All sectors. Sk. in hosp. Rimau- 
court, Vichy. Tours and Brest, Oct. 16, 1918. Ret. U. S. 
Dec. 15, 1918; dis. Jan. 11, 1919. 

Randolph Center, Vt. 



Sergeant Howard J. Bruemmer ("Bruem") 

Born Jan. 24, 1894. Clk., Landers, Frary & Clark Co., 
New Britain. Enl. Tp. B April 11, 1917. Pvt. 1st class 

May 26, 1917; cpl. Aug. 27, 1917; sgt. Aug. 1, 1918. All sectors. Shell 
wound, Verdun, Oct. 23. In Dec, 1918, furnished model for pack- 
roll selected by Div. Commander from among competitors of other 
organizations and adopted as standard for Division. 

Extract from letter recommending a citation in orders: "On Oct. 
25, 1918, Sgt. Bruemmer was struck by a shell fragment with such 
force as to knock him down and temporarily disable him, but he re- 
fused to be evacuated. It became necessary a short time later to make 
a relief of the 1st Platoon which had become exluiustcd while going to 
the support of the infantry in Houppy Bois. . . . When Sgt. Bruem- 
mer heard of the proposed relief he voluntarily offered to lead the 
relieving platoon forward, though well knowing the dangerous charac- 
ter of the road to be covered, and although himself severely shaken 
and unable to carry a pack, as the result of the explosion of the shell. 
I accepted his offer, and Sgt. Bruemmer effected the relief, remaining 
as platoon sergeant in the Houppy Bois under Lieut. Wainwright until 
the platoon and Company were ordered back to Marre. 
Chester F. Comey, 
1st Lieut., 101st M. G. Bn., A. E. F." 

197 West Main St., New Britain, Conn. 



218 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




PvT. Stonewall J. Bryant ("Stonewall Jackson") 

Born Sept. 17, 1894. Farmer. Dft. May 26, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Lee, Va. Arr. France Aug. o; joined Bn. Dec. 10. 
R. F. D. 2, Amherst, Va. 



Wagoner Malcolm I. Buck ("Buckie") 

Born April 20, 1896. Chauffeur. Enl. 1st Vt. Inf., 
St. Johnsbury, June 30, 1917. Wag. March 1, 1918. All 
sectors. Wounded June 12, Toul Sector. Gassed Ver- 
dun Oct. 29. Injured in accident Nov. 27. Hosp. Chau- 
niont and Bordeaux. Invalided home and in hosp., 
Hoboken. Dis. Feb. 13, 1919. Six months in U. S. 
Navy, 1917. 

Barton, Vt. 




Wagoner Adrian S. Buckman ("Buck") 

Born Nov. 13, 1892. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. B May 15, 1917. Wag. March 1, 1918. All sectors. 
92 Sterling St., Hartford, Conn. 



Wagoner William Burden ("Bill") 

Born Sept. 3, 1898. Chauffeur. Enl. 1st Vt. Inf. St. 
Johnsbury Dec. 16, 1916. Wag. March 1, 1918. All 
sectors. Shell wound north Chateau-Thierry July 22; 
hosp. Chaumont; rejoined Sept. 5th. 

55 Western Ave., St. Johnsbury, Vt. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



219 




Corporal Gerald D. Burxham ("Jerry") 

Born June 12, 1899. Clk., Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. 
Niantic Sept. 27, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Nov. 6, 1918; 
cpl. Dec. 1, 1918. Shell wound July 22, north Chateau- 
Thierry; hosp. to Aug. 8th. All sectors. 

3 Greenfield St., Hartford, Conn. 




Private Harley G. Butler ("Harl") 

Born Nov. 28, 1893. School teacher. Dft. May 25, 
1918. Tr. Cps. Zachary Taylor, Ky., Beauregard, La. 
Arr. France Sept. 3rd; joined Bn. Dec. 10th. 

R. F. D. 4, Montpclier, Ohio. 




Private Antonio Calastro ("Tony") 

Born March 1, 1895. House painter. Dft. Dec. 7, 
1917. Tr. in 306th Inf. Cp. Upton. Arr. France March 
20th; joined Bn. June 6, 1918. All sectors ex. Chemin 
des Dames. 

67 James St., Nciv York, N. Y. 






Corporal Harry S. Campbell 

Born Sept. 29, 1884. Salesman for Colt Mfg. Co. in 
So. America. Enl. Niantic Aug. 22, 1917. Pvt. 1st class 
Feb. 1, 1918; cpl. Sept. 21, 1918. All sectors. 

539 Callc Carrole, Adrogue, F. C. S. Buenos Aires, 
Argentina, South America. 



220 



History of The IUIst Machine Gun Battalion 




HoRSESHOER Louis Canzenella ("Custer") 

Born Julv 2, 1894. Blacksmith. Enl. Tp. B July 27, 
1917. Horseshoer Aug. 1, 1917. Trans. M. G. Co., 
l()4th Inf., May 2, 1918; back to Co. March 1919; later 
to St. Aignan for return to U. S. All Div. sectors. Co. 
and Bn. baseball teams. Ret. U. S. April 22; dis. Apr. 
24, 1919. 

/>S^ Morris Si., Hartford, Conn. 



Private Gerolamo Casazza ("Cazaz") 

Born March 10, 1890. Sales elk. Dft. May 27, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga. Arr. France Aug. 4; joined Bn. 
Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 

7 James St., New York City. 



'pS^-S 



*--\ 



Private Leo Cassidy ("Cass") 

Born Feb. IS, 1892. Machinist. Dft. May 13, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France, Aug. 6th; joined Bn. 
Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel. Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Sk. in hosp. 
Nov. 27-Dec. 5, 1918. 

S22 Buffalo St., O/can, .V. 1'. 




> "^*V: 



Private Eugenic Cassinki.i.i ("Caz") 

Born June 17, 1888. Laborer. Dft. May 2."). 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 6th; joined Bn. 
Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 

337 E. l.'fdtli St., Neic York Cily. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



221 



^ 



> 



Private Samuel D. Cetner ("Sammie") 

Born Nov. 23, 1894. Sales elk. Dft. May 13, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 6th; joined Bn. 
Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Shell wound, 
Verdun, Oct. 23rd. 

Care of Jacob Cetner, 162 Tompkins Ave., Brooklvii, 
v. Y. 




Wagoner Edgar W. Champion ("Champ") 

Born July 30, 1894. Clk., Aetna Fire Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. B April 4, 1917. Pvt. 1st class May 26, 1917; wag. 
April 1, 1918. All sectors. Shell-shocked north Chateau- 
Thierry July 22d; hosp. Bazoilles and Chauniont July 
-'3rd-Aug. 20th. 

Old Lvmc, Conn. 




Sergeant Harold N. Chandler ("Chan") 

Born Aug. 17, 1887. Clk., Conn. Mut. Life Ins. Co. 
Enl. Tp. B April 23, 1917. Pvt. 1st class July 1, 1917; 
cpl. July 15, 1918; sgt. Oct. 17, 1918. AH sectors. 
Gassed Verdun Oct. 23rd; hosp. Nov. 5th-Dec. 23rd, 
Allerey. Sk. in Parker Hill Hosp., Boston, April 8-29. 
Dis. April 29, 1919. 

Conn. Mutual Life Ins. Co., Hartford, Conn. 



Private Porter B. Chase ("Port") 

Born May 27, 1896. Real estate broker. Enl. Niantic 
Aug. 21, 1917. Left Bn. at Niantic Sept. 30 for hosp. 
Dis. acct. physical disability Jan. 25, 1918. 

12 Arnoldalc Road, West Hartford, Conn. 



222 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



^jat^it^ 




Private Floyd B. Clapp ("Clappie") 

Born Jan. 1, 1895. Mill hand. Enl. 1st Virginia Inf., 
N. G., June 23, 1916. Tr. Cp. McClellan, Ala. Arr. 
France April 15, 1918; joined Bn. May 13th. All sec- 
tors ex. Chemin des Dames. Gassed Verdun Oct. 23rd; 
hosp. Nov. Ist-Dec. 18th. Mex. Border July 1916 to 
Jan., 1917. 

329 Church St., Danville, ]'a. 




Private Sam R. Click ("Bougie") 

Born Oct. 23, 1894. Clk. Dft. Sept. 22, 1917. Tr. 
Cp. Travis, Texas. Arr. France April 16, 1918; joined 
Bn. May 13. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. 

Durant, Okla. 




Private Albert J. Combs ("Rooster") 

Born Feb. 15, 1894. Laborer. Dft. May 10, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga., and Mayet, Fr. Arr. France 
Aug. 6, 1918; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, 
Meuse-Arg. 

Lake George, N . Y . 



Wagoner John J. Corcoran ("Cork") 

^I.mJ' Born Mav 29, 1890. Paper maker. Enl. 1st Vt. Inf., 

- ' •' Ft. Ethan Allen, June 29, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Sept. 21, 

1918; wag. Nov. 6, 1918. Shell wound July 22, north 

Chateau-Thierry; hosp. Rejoined Bn. Sept. 20th. All 

Sv sectors ex. St. Mihiel. 

Fifzdale, Vt. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalioi 



223 




Sergeant George B. Coy ("Kid") 

Born May 10, 1900. Clk. Enl. Niantic Aug. 22, 1917. 
Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Dec. 31, 1917; rejoined Bn. March 
26, 1918. Later trans. M. P. Co., 4th Corps. With 
Army of Occ, Coblenz; promoted cpl. and sgt. Re-en- 
Usted. 

Ardonia, N. Y. 




X 



Private, 1st Class, William J. Crane ("Bill") 

Born Jan. 25, 1893. Pliunber. Enl. Niantic Aug. 21, 
1917. Pvt. 1st class April 1, 1918. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. 
Jan. 11; rejoined 101st Bn. Jan. 23, 1918. All sectors. 

272 S. Congress Ave., Atlantic City, N. J. 




Sergeant Richard Cushman ("Dick") 

Born Oct. 9, 1888. Married. Treas., Cushman Chuck 
Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. B June 7, 1917. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. 
Dec. 31, 1917. Cpl. May 1, 1918; sgt. July 11, 1918. 
With this unit at Harchechamp and St. Aignan in 
charge of records. Ret. U. S. Feb. 1; dis. Feb. 2-t, 1919. 

Cushman Chuck Co., Hartford, Conn. 




Wagoner Louis R. Daniels ("Dink") 

Born Jan. 10, 1895. Clk., Robt. Price Coal Co., 
Htfd. Enl. Tp. B June 12, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Aug. 27, 
1917; wag. March 1, 1918. All sectors. 

8 Lexington Road, West Hartford, Conn. 



224 



History of Tiik 101 st Machink Gun Battalion 









Wagoner Homkr P. Darling ("Home") 

Born Sept. 30, 1S95. Farmer. Enl. Co. C 1st Vt. Inf. 
Tune 19, 1917, Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 24, 1917. 
Trans, from Hqrs. Co. April 1, 1918 to B Co. as pvt. 
Private 1st class Nov. 6, 191S. Gassed Oct. 23rd, Ver- 
dun. All sectors. Sk. in hosp. Tours, Savenay and 
Brest March 8th-May. Ret. U. vS. June 6, 1919; hosp. 
Cp. Merritt and Oswego, N. Y. Uis. July 31, 1919. 

Marshjidd, Vt. 




Corporal Godfrey M. Day ("Dotty") 

Born Dec. 4, 1897. Student, Choate Sch. Enl. Tp. B 
May 15, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. April 
10, 1919. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. 
Sk. in hosp., Mesves, Sept. 6, 1918-Jan. IG, 1919. 

27 Marsliall St., Hartford, Co)iii. 



Private, 1st Class, Lyle E. Dean ("Deanie") 

Born Nov. 19, 1892. Farmer. Enl. 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. 
Ethan Allen June 28, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Sept. 21, 1918. 
All sectors. 

Whrclock, Vt. 



Private Martin Decator ("Lightnin' ") 
Born Nov. 17, 1891. Farmer. Dft. Sept. 21, 1917. 



Tr. Cp. Devens, 301st M. G 
1918; joined Bn. Dec. 11. 
Middlchurg, N. Y. 



Wn. Arr. France July 28, 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



225 




Mechanic Martin R. Dexheimer ("Dexie") 

Born Aug. 18, 1895. Carpenter. Enl. Tp. B June 5, 
1917. Mech. Sept. 8, 1917. All sectors. Gassed Oct. 
23rd, Verdun. Sk. in hosp. Bar-sur-Aube Oct. 2Sth- 
Dec. 12th. 

Bloomfichl, Conn. 




Private, 1st Class, James E. Dick ("Dick") 

Born Sept. 14, 1894. Box maker. Enl. 1st Vt. Inf., 
Ft. Ethan Allen, July 21, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Dec, 1918. 
Trans, from Hqrs. Co. to B Co. April 1, 1918. Shell 
wound July 22d, north Chateau-Thierry; hosp. Chau- 
mont. All sectors. Rejoined Bn. Sept. Trans, to Hqrs. 
Co. Nov., 1918. Later sk. in hosp. Ret. U. S. May 29th; 
dis. June 11, 1919. 

Winchester, N. H. 



Private Donald M. Dockrell ("Dock") 

Born May 19, 1898. Bookkeeper, Dockrell & Halli- 
day Co., Htfd. Enl. Aug. 23, 1917 Niantic. All sectors. 
Gassed Oct. 23rd, Verdun; hosp. Langres; rejoined Bn. 
Nov. 16th. Sk. in hosp., Nantes and Brest Jan. 1, 
1919. Invalided U. S. April 3; hosp.. Fox Hills, Staten 
I. Dis. May 3, 1919. Co. football team. 

ll(j Beverly Road, West Hartford, Conn. 




Private, 1st Class, Edwin O. Drager ("Drag") 
Born Oct. 23, 1895. Married. Horseshoer. Dft. 

May 13, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga. and Mayet, Fr. 

Arr. France July 3, 1918; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. 

Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 

350 Merchants Road, Rochester, N. Y. 



226 



History of The lOlsr Machini: Gun Battalion 




I'kuatk Leslie C. Egglestox C'Eggy") 

Born Feb. 19, 1S9G. Clerk, Anna Life Ins. Co. EnL 
'Pp. B Niantic, Aug. 19, 1917. All sectors. 
aU Allendale Road, Hartford, Conn. 




Pruatk Frank I'aikowski ("Fake") 

Born April 4, 1895. Metal moulder. Dft. Sept. 22, 
1917. Tr. Cps. Custer, IMich., and Hancock, Ga. o40th 
Inf. Arr. France Aug. 4, 1918; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. 
St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Shell wound, Verdun, 
Oct. 23rd; hosp. to Nov. 28th. 

I40O American Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. 




Private, 1st Class, Wilson S. Falls ("F.-\ther") 

Born Dec. 18, 1883. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. B Niantic Aug. 20, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, June 1, 
1918. All sectors. Gassed Oct. 23rd, \Vrdun; hosp. 
Limoges, Nov. Ist-Dec. 10th. 

10S7 Farniiiii^ton Ave., Hartford. Conn. 



^» « *, 




Private Fred Ferris ("Siirimi'") 

Enl. 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen, April 4, 1917. 
Trans, from Hqrs. Co. to B Co. April 1, 1918. AH sec- 
tors . 

J.J Caledonian St., St. Johnsbury, Vl. 



lliisoKV ov Twv lOlsr Macimm: ("!r\ Haiiai,u>\ 




rKivATE, 1st Class, William Flottman ("Rill") 

Horn Sept. 10, 1SS7. Married. R. R. cni^iiKMiuui. 
1^1. May 10, 191S. Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga. and Mayet, 
I'r. Arr. I'ranco Aug. Oth; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. 
Miliiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 

:J90 Walnut St., Biithilo, X. Y. 




Privatk Jamks I. Floyd ("Hop tok") 

r.ornSept. 10, ISO.'). Packer. Dfl. MaylM, 1!»1S. Tr. 
Cp. Lee, \'a. Arr. France Aiit;'. (Uh; ioincd Hii. Dec. 1 1, 
191S. 

Bit en a ]'ist(.i, Va. 




Pki\atk, Lst Class, John J. Folf.v ("Mhr ailleuse") 

r>orn March 29, 1897. Clk., Travekn-s Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. B June 5, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Aug. 27, 1917. All 
sectore. Gassed Oct. 2ord, Verdun. 

Engine House No. S, 90 Market St., Hartjord, Conn. 



Wagoner Burdette W. Fothercill (."Burt") 

Bom April 3, 1895. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Niantic, Aug. 23, 1917. Wag. June 1, 1918. Sp. Tr. Bn. 
Dec. 31-Feb. 4, 1918. Cheniin des Dames, Toul. Cha- 
teau-Thierry. Shell wound July 22d north Chateau- 
Thierrv; hosp. Vittel, Mai-s-sur-Alliers and Nantes. In- 
valided U. S. April 8, 1919; hosp. N. Y. and Cp. Devens. 
Dis. June 10, 1919. 

94:2 West Boulevard, Hartford, Conn. 



228 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion- 




Private, 1st Class, John J. Fothergill ("Forto") 

Born Oct. 6, 1889. Clk. Dft. Sept. 22, 1917. Tr. Cp. 
Dcvens, 301st Inf., TOth Hiv. Arr. France Aug. 3, 1918; 
joined Bn. Dec. 11. 

S Bvcnicn Si., East Bostoi. Mass. 



Private John P. Fought ("Jack") 

Born Tune 10, 1890. Clk. Dft. Mav 27, 1918. Tr. in 
138tli M. G. Bn., Cp. Shelbv, -Miss. Arr. France Aug. 
5th; joined Bn. Dec. 23, 1918. 

S/iclhvvillc, III. 




Private Stanislau Gasixski ("Ski") 

Born May 5, 1895. Miner. Dft. June 26, 191S. Tr. 
Cp. Lee, Va. Arr. France Aug. (5th; joined Bn. Dec. 11, 
1918. 

Diirvca, Pa. 



::3k. 



Private Stanley T. Gates ("Stan.") 

Fnl. April 24. 1917, 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. 
Assigned 102d M. G. Bn. Aug. 1917. Trans. 101st Bn. 
Nov. 19 IS. Sk. in hosp. Dec. 1918. All Div. sectors. 

Banict, 17. 



r 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



229 




Private, 1st Class, Wallace H. Gladwin ("Wally") 

Born April 1, 1893. Clk., Gen. Agency, Aetna Life 
Ins. Co.. Htfd. Enl. Tp. B May 8, 1917. Pvt. 1st class 
Aug. 27, 1917. All sectors. Sk. inhosp. Oct. 18-Nov. IS, 
1918, Vichy. 

199 Bnmsivick Ave, W'csl Ilurlford. Com. 



Private Clarence H. Golden ("Goldie") 

Born ^lay 29, 1895. Farmer. Dft. May 27, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Beauregard, La., 142d M. G. Bn., 39th Div. 
Arr. France Sept. 3rd; joined Bn. Dec. 11, 1918. Left 
Hn. at Cp. Devens. Dis. April 2(i, 1919. 

Hico, La. 




Wagoner Henry R. Goodwin ("F.a.tima") 

Born Nov, 2, 1894. Clk., Tucker & Goodwin, Inc., 
Htfd. Enl. Tp. B April 23, 1917. Pvt. 1st class June 
1917; wag. March 1, 1918. All sectors ex. Meuse-Arg. 
Sk. in Hosp. Sept. 29, 1918; rejoined Bn. Oct. 7th; re- 
turned to Hosp. at Rimaucourt Oct. r2th. Trans. Classi- 
fication Cp., St. Aignan Nov. 1, 1918. Rejoined Bn. 
March 9, 1919. 

576 Farmington Ave., HartJ'onl, Conn. 




Private, 1st Class, Harry J. Gorse, Jr. ("Harry") 

Born July 8, 1896. Farmer. Enl. Niantic Sept. 28, 
1917. Py^;. 1st class Nov. 6, 1918. All sectors. Gassed 
Oct. 23rd, Verdun. 

Simsburv, Conn. 



230 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Batallion 




Private Evan Gott ("Ev") 
Born July 21, 188S. Miner. Dft. April '^■■ 



191S. 



Tr. Cp. Beauregard, La. Arr. France Aug. Gth; joined 
Bn. Dec. 22, 1918. 

2108 Waverly Place, St. Louis, Mo. 



Wagoner Earle H. Gowdy ("Hank") 

Born April 24, 1897. Chaufifeur. Enl. Aug. 23, 1917, 
Niantic. Wag. March 1, 1918. All sectors. Gassed 
Oct. 29th. Verdun. 

Goodtviii St., Biirnside, Conn. 




Private William H. Gray ("Bill Hesselgrave") 

Born Dec. 21. 1890. Sales manager. Enl. Aug. 19, 
1917, Tp. B, Niantic. All sectors. Gassed Oct. 23rd, 
Verdun. 

19 Nilcs St., Hartford, Conn. 



Sergeant Frank A. Greer 

Bom Sept. 12, 1897. Married Aug. 27, 1917. Sales- 
man. Enl. Niantic Aug. 23, 1917. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. 
Dec. 31, 1917. Later trans. Ordn. Dept.; sgt. Sept. 24, 
1918. Meuse-Arg., 168th Inf.; wounded at Ville aux 
Bois; hosp. Chaumont and Dijon. At S. A. Ordn. Sch., 
Is-sur-Tille. Ret. U. S. and dis. March 1919. 

5724 Hofnian Ave, Philadelphia, Pa. 



lIisrc^KV OF Tiir lOlsr M m-iunf C^.tn Baitaiion 



231 



^ 



IL _Ji 



PKixAri:, Isr Class, Fkkp J. CiKosski ai s fl^RKunY") 

Rom April i), 1804. Salesman. Stanlo\ Riilo \: Level 
Co.. New Britain. Enl. Tp. R Mav 4. 1917. Fvt. 1st 
class Oct. 1, 1017. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Jan. 8, 1918; re- 
joined Bn. Feb. 4th. All sectors. Cassed Oct. 23rd, Ver- 
dun; hosp., Limoges. Nov. "Jo. Spec, duty, Paris; 
rejoined Bn. Jan. 8, 1910. 

1077 Hdlscy St.. Brooklyn. X. Y. 

Note: Name legally changed to Fred. J. Gross. 




Privatk, 1st Class. John S. CiVnxixo C'Jack"") 

Born Aug. M. ISOo. Student, Georgetown V. Enl. 
Pp. B May lo. 1017. Fvt. 1st class\-Vug. 23, 1017. 
Shell -sliock and gas Tuly 22d north Chateau-Thierry; 
hosp. Contrexeville to Sept. oth; P. W. E. Co. 32, St. 
Nazaire. to Dec. 18. Ret. U. S. Jan. 1st; dis. Jan. 15. 
1010. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Co. 
football team. 

.'■> /.'■();; 5/., Hartford. Conn. 



Pkivatk Avglst a. Hacker (,"H.\ck") 

Bom Tune 8. 1805. Iron worker. Dft. Mav 13, 1018. 
Tr. Cp." Hancock, Ga. Arr. France July 30, 1018; 
joined Bn. Dec. 22. "With another unit. St. Mihiel, 
Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 

SS6 Hunterdon St.. Xcicark. X. J. 




Private Albert G. Hall ("Al") 

Bom Dec. 20, 1804. Salesman. Dft. May 24. 1018. 
Tr. Cp. Devens, 302d Inf.. 7Gth Div. Arr. France July 
12th; joined Bn. Dec. 10, 1918. 

L\'ndo)i. 17. 



232 



History of Tiik IOIst AIachink Ciix Battalion- 




Private. 1st Class, Gardiner H. Hall ("Orderly") 

Born April 9, 1899. Student. Enl. Tp. B May 28, 
1917. Pvt. 1st class Aug. 27, 1917. All sectors. Gassed 
Oct. 28th, Verdun; hosp. to Xov. 2(5, 1918. 

So. Willingtoii duiii. 



Corporal Walter R. Hall ("Walt") 

Born Aug. 30, 1893. Adjuster. Gen Agcv. Aetna Life 
Ins. Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. BApril 24. 1917. Pvt. 1st class 
Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Gassed 
Oct. 23rd, \"erdun. 

79 Mill St., MiUichestcr, Conn. 




•*- ^ 



Corporal Clarence E. Halvorsex ("Tige") 

Born Feb. 16, 1897. Farmer. Enl. Co. C, 1st Vt. 
Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen, July o, 1917. Trans. Bn. Hqrs. 
Co. Niantic. Pvt. 1st class Oct. 17, 1918; cpl. Dec. 1, 
1918. Trans, from Hqrs. Co. to B Co. April 1. 1918. 
All sectors. Gas sch., Clamccy Jan. 11-18, 1919. 

C//cLsco, Vt. 



■-■'. ,.. II IIIMII 111 




Pkinatk. IstCl., Piiii.ip H.Hammkksloigh ("Agile") 

Born Tan. 20, 1894. Clk., L. B. Haas Sz Co., tobacco 
dealers, Htfd. Enl. Tp. B June 4, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, 
Sept. 1, 1918. All sectors. 

12£ Maplcwood Ave., West Hartford, Conn. 



History of Thk IOIst Maciiixe Gun Battalion 



233 





J>ii(«ft| 



Wagoner EoMixn R. Hampson ("Weary") 

Born lulv 2(5, 1804. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. B March (i, 1917. Wag. March 1, 1918. Chemin 

dt's Danu's. Toul. Oluitoau-Thiony. Sholl wound July 22, north Cha- 
teau-Thieny; liosp. Limoges, Invalided lioine .Ian. 3, 1<)10; hosp. until 
dis. at Cp. Menitt Feb. 20. 1<,)19. Citation: -TTie Division Coiumaniler 
takes great pleasure in eitin« in orders the following named oHieers and 
men who have shown marked gallantry and meritorious service in the 
capture of Torey. Jielleau. Givry, Houresehes Woods. Rocliet Woods, 
Hill 190 overlooking Chateau-Thierry, Etrepilly, Bezuet. Epeids, Trug- 
ny, and La Fere Woods to the Jaulgonne — Fere-en-Tardenois Road, 
during the .advance of this Division against the enemy from July IS to 
2,^, litis, in the Second Battle of the Marne. 

W AU. I'^UMIXD R. H.\MPSON, Co.Ml>,\NY B, lOlsT ^L G. Bx. 

***** 

C. R. Edwwrds 

Major General, Commandiinj" 
Awarded D. S. C. Oct. 20, U)1S: '■Edmuiiit R. Hampson. Wagoner, 
Co. B. 101st Machine Gun Battalion, for extraordinary heroism in 
action near Trugny. France, July 22, 191S. .Mthough painfully wounded 
by shell-fire, he courageously continued his duty of evacuating the 
wounded, until exhausted from loss of blooil." 
By Okukr of the Sechet.\ry of War 

Pey'ton C. March 

General, Chief of Staff 

oS Revere St., W'alerluiry, Co)ui. 



Priyate John J. Harmon ("Jack") 

Bom May 18, 1888. Electrician. Dft. May 10, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock and Mayet, Fr. An-. France Aug. 6th; 
joined Bn. Sept. 8, 1918. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse- 
Arg, 

474 ViUes Si., Albany, X. V. 



:'9 : 






i 



Priyate Thomas L. Harriett ("Tom") 

Bom Aug. 23, 1893. IMarried. Farmer. Dft. May 28, 
1918. Tr. 141st M. G. Bn., 39th DiY., Cp. Beauregard, 
La. Arr. France Aug. Gth; joined Bn. Dec. 11, 1918. 

Wallensivi, Ark. 



^ '^6*v ^. 



Supply Sergeant Edward V. Harrington ("Ed") 

Bom Oct. 26, 1893. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. B May 1, 1917. P\'t., 1st class, July 1, 1917; cpl. 
Aug. 27, 1917; supply sgt. Oct. 17, 1918. AH sectors. 
Co. clk. until promoted to sgt. 

12 Winter St., So. Manchester, Conn. 



234 



History of The IUIst Machine Gun Battalion 




Sergeant Everett H. Hart ("Ev"") 

Born July 10, 1894. Member, Chas. C. Hart Seed Co., 
Wethersfield, Conn. Enl. Tp. B May 8, 1917. Pvt., 1st 
class, Aug. 23, 1917; cpl. Aug. 27, 1917; sgt. Feb. 1, 1918 
All sectors. Sk. in hosp., Limoges, Oct. 16-Dec. 10, 
1918. Co. football and Co. and Bn. baseball teams. Co. 
athletic N. C. O. at Mansignc. 

State St., Wethersfield, Conn. 







Corporal William H. Hart, Jr. ("Bill") 

Born Feb. 26, 1895. Student, Yale. Enl. Tp. B May 
8, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Jan. 1, 1918; cpl. Sept. 1, 1918. 
All sectors. Gassed Oct. 23rd, Verdun; hosp. Nov. 1- 
Dec. 28. Co. football team. 

324 JIart St., Nciv Brita'ui. Conn. 

Wagoner Clifford R. Haskins ("Clif") 

Born May 17, 1893. Clk., Conn. Mut. Life Ins. Co. 
Enl. Tp. B April 24, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Sept. 1, 1917; 

wag. March 1, 1918. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. 
Shell wound Oct. 22 north Chateau-Thierrv; hosp. until invalided home 
Jan. 9, 1919. Hosp. Cp Utpon until dis. March 22, 1919. Citation: 
"The Division Commander takes great pleasure in citing in orders the 
following named officers and men who have shown marked gallantry 
and meritorious service in the capture of Torcy, Belleau, Givry, Boure- 
sches Woods, Rochet Woods, Hill 190 overlooking Chateau-Thierry, 
Etrepilly, Bezuet, Epieds, Trugny, and La Fere Woods to the Jaulgonne 
— Fere-en-Tardenois Road, during the advance of this Division against 
the enemy from July 15 to 25, 1918, in the Second Battle of the Marne. 

♦ » * # * 

W.vG. Clifford R. H.\skin.s, Comp.v.ny B, 101st M. G. Bx. 

***** 

C. R. Edwards 

Major General, Commanding" 

Awarded D. S. C. Clifford R. Ha.s-kin.% Wagoner, Co. B, 101st M. G. 
Battalion. "For extraordinary heroism in action near Trugny, France, 
July 22, 1918. He was seriously wounded in the leg while placing injured 
soldiers in his anihulance. Nevertheless, he insisted on drivng the ma- 
cliine to the dressing .station, and continued the work of evacuating the 
wounded until exhausted from loss of blood." 

By (Jkder of the Secretary of War 
Peyton C. March 

General, Chief of Staff 

66 Burn side Avenue, East Hartford, Conn. 

Corporal Ellsworth A. Hawkes ("Ell") 

Born Jan. 30, 1890. Pri\-. sec, Aetna Life Ins. Co. 
Enl. Tp. B May 4, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; 
cpl. and Co. clk. Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Det. ser., 
Div. Hqrs., Eccomoy, Feb. 20, 1919. Ret. U. S. April 
15; dis. May 4, 1919. 

28 Conway St., Greenfield, Mass. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



235 






Sergeant John Heron ("Jack") 

Born Dec. 6, ISO-i. Public accountant. Enl. Auj^. 24, 
1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, Feb. 1, 1918; cpl. Sept. 
21, 1918; sgt. Dec. 1, 1918. All sectors. Co. and Bn. 
baseball teams. 

Sir West 6th St., Plainftdd, N. J. 




1st Sergeant Clark B. Hill ("Bub") 

Born March 3, 1892. Mech. engr., Terry Steam Tur- 
bine Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. B March 6, 1917. Pvt., 1st 
class. May 26, 1917; cpl. Aug. 1, 1917; sgt. Feb. 1, 1918; 
1st sgt. Oct. 17, 1918. French M. G. sch., Chatenois, 
Nov. 25-Dec. 10, 1917. All sectors. Gassed Verdun 
Oct. 23rd. Co. football team. 

HiU Bros. Co., Hudson, Mass. 



1st Sergeant Clifford E. Houdkr ("Clif") 

Born Feb. 9, 1897. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl. Tp. 
B April 30, 1917. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Dec. 31, 1917; to 
Dcp. Div., 1st Corps, March 24, 1918. Sgt. Feb.; 1st 
sgt. March, 1918. Army Cand. Sch., Langres, summer 
of 1918; Inf. Tactical Sch. and Gas Sch., Gondrecourt, 
Oct., 1918. Served as 1st sgt., Kitchen Car Ser. Ret. 
U. S. July 7th; dis. July 15, 1919. 

Irviiigton-on-Hudsoji, N. Y. 



Private Winfield C. Hodgkins ("Tim") 

Bom Dec. 30, 1893. P. 0. elk.. Bar Harbor, Me. 
Dft. April 27, 1918. Tr. M. G. Co., 302d Inf., 76th Div., 
Cp. Devens. Arr. France July 16. Clk., Ry. Transport 
Office to Atig. Trans. 41st Div. Joined Bn. Dec. 11th. 

54 Eagle Lake Road, Bar Harbor, Me. 



236 



HisioRv (ii- TiiK lOlsT Machine Gun Battalion 




I'RixAri;, Isi Class, John H. Jackson, Jr. ("Jack") 

Born April 19, lS9-t. Student, Columl)ia U. luil. 'Pp. 
R Tune 10, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 22, 1917. Sk. ui 
hos])., Lc- Havre, Oct. 31-Dec. 22, 1917. All sectors. 
Trans. Div. Hqrs. Tp. Dec. 15, 191S. Ret. U. S. April 
rnh; (lis. April 29. 1919. Co. fo()ll)all team. 

5!) Cabot St., Hartford, Conn. 




Private ARTiirK II. Jacob ("Art") 

Horn Oct. 21, 189."). Teanisler. Dft. July (i, HHS. 
Tr. Cp. Haneock, Ga., and Selles-sur-Cher, Fr. Arr. 
Franee Oct. 4th; joined Bn. Dec. 11, 1918. 

1 1 Id W'il/ow Place, Milicaiil.ur, Wis. 



Private Clarence H. Jar\ts ("John Bunny") 

Born Dee. 12. 1894. Dft. May 10, 1918. Tr. Cp. 
Hancock. Arr. France Aug. (ilh; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. 
St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 

Mas.sciia Spriiii^s, N. Y. 



Pruatk, 1st Class, ARruiR Johnson ("Art") 

Born April 18, 1891. Clk., Taylor Lumber Co., Htfd. 
l':nl. Tp. B May 15, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, April 1, 1918. 



All sectors. 

259 New Britain Av( 



Hartford. Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



237 




Corporal Herbert Johnson ("Herb") 

Born Jan. 29, 1895. Salesman. Enl. Tp. B May 15, 
1917. PVt., 1st class, April 1, 1918; cpl. April 10, 1919. 
All sectors. Sk. in hosp., Toul, May 1-18, 1918. 

259 New Britain Ave., Hartford, Conn. 



Private, 1st Class, Allen N. Jones ("Foggy") 

Born Feb. 27, 1896. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl. Tp. 
B April 24, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Oct. 17, 1918. All 
sectors. Shell wound, Verdun, Oct. 23rd. At Univ. of 
Rennes March-July, 1919. Ret. U. S. July Uth; dis. 
July 18, 1919. Co. football team. 

222 Rector St., Perth Anibov, N. J. 




Corporal Raymond L. Jones ("Algerian") 

Born May 28, 1895. Velvet weaver. Enl. Tp. B Aug. 
19, 1917, Niantic. P\i;., 1st class, April 1, 1918; cpl. 
April 10, 1919. x\ll sectors. Gassed, Verdun. Oct. 23rd. 
Sk. in hosp. Sept. 13-20, and Dec. 14-30, 1918. Eight 
months former service, 2d Regt., C. N. G. 

Clinton, Conn. 




Private, 1st Class, Joseph D. Joynt ("Joe") 

Born Nov. 28, 1892. Silk worker. Dft. May 18, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga., and Mayet, Fr., 83rd Div. Arr. 
France Aug. 6th; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mrhiel, 
Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Pvt., 1st class, Dec. 16, 1918. 
Trans, hosp., Cp. Devens, April, 1919. Dis. May 29, 
1919. 

5 No. Main St., Carthage, N. Y. 



238 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Pkin'ate, 1st Class, Eugene M. Kelcy ("Barber") 

Born July 21, 1S92. Reporter. Enl. Tp. B, Niantic, 
Aug. 19, 1917. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau- 
Thierry. Trans. Motion Pict. Sec., Photo Lab., Paris, 
Aug. 1918. Ret. U. vS. June; dis. June 27, 1919. 

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 




Corporal John T. Kelley ("Jack") 

Born June IS, 1893. Chauffeur. Enl. Oct. :-!, 1917, 
Niantic. Wag. March 1, 1918; cpl. Nov. (j, 191S. All 
sectors. Gassed Oct. 23rd, Verdun. 

120 Bonner Si., Hartford, Conn. 




Sergeant Harold J. Kennedy ("Chick") 

Born Sept. 21, 1898. Student. Enl. April 3, 1917, 
M. G. Co., 1st Vt. Inf., St. Albans. Pvt., 1st class, 
June 21. 1917; cpl. July 9; sgt. Aug. 10, 1917. Chemin 
des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. 1st Corps Sch., 
Gondrecourt, May, 1918. Left Bn. July 22; ret. U. S. 
as instructor, Cps. Merritt, Dix, Funston and Wads- 
worth. Dis. Dec. 27, 1918. 

;/ Stowcll St., St. Albans, Vt. 




Private William Kievit ("Kiev") 

Born Nov. 19, 189"). Motorman. Enl. Sept. 27, 1917, 
Niantic. All sectors. Gassed, \'crdun, Oct. 23rd; hosp. 
to Dec. 22d. 

J4() Warren St., Patterson, X. J. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



239 



» <s* *». % 




"*V-Zl 



Private Nelson L. Kingsbury ("Red") 

Born Dec. 6, 1897. Railroad fireman. Enl. Aug. 24, 
1917, Niantic. All sectors. 
19 Pliny St., Hartford, Conn. 



■PP^^Hf 



Private, 1st Class, Carl A. Kjelleren ("Shelly") 

Born Aug. 22, 1897. Surveyor, Town Engrs. Office, 
W. Htfd. Enl. Tp. B April 25, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, 
Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 28th; 
hosp. Savenay, Nov. 4th-Dec. 8th. 

220 Park Road, West Hartford, Conn. 



"""Sr^'^i 




Wagoner Vincent DeP. Lamb ("Doc") 

Born Oct. 17, 1896. Clk., Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. B May 1, 1917. Wag. March 1, 1918. All sectors. 
48 Main St., Middletown, Coiui. 



Private John Landusky 

Born Sept. 24, 1888. Teamster. Dft. Cp. Devens, 
Sept. 20, 1917. Joined Bn. Niantic, Sept. 21st. Perma- 
nent K. P. All sectors. 

North Haven, Conn. 



240 



History of Tiik IOIst Machine Gun Battalion 




Private, 1st Class, Carl W. Lawsox ("Red") 

Born Dec. 14, 1894. Mechanic. Knl. Tp. B Aug. 19, 
1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 1, 191S. All sectors. 
Iliini ploi, Co)i)i. 




Private John M. Lawson ("Monk") 

Born June 1, 1899. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Aug. 23, 1917, Niantic. All sectors. Ga.ssed, Verdun, 
Oct. 23rd. 

270 Oakwood Ave., West Ilaiiford, Coiiii. 



L. 



S 




Corporal Stanley H. Leeke ("Stan") 

Born May 25, 1897. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl. Tp. 
B May 1, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. Aug. 
1, 1918. All sectors. Sk. in hosp. Nov. 7-Dec. 28. 1917. 
Gas sch., Rolampont, Oct. 10-23, 1918. Gassed, Ver- 
dun, Oct. 23rd; hosp. Oct. 29- Dec. 14. Sorbonne, 
Univ. of Paris, March-July, 1919. Baseball team Amer- 
ican students which won Paris Dist. and inter-collegiate 
championships. Co. and Bn. teams; Co. football team. 
Ret. U. S. July 13th; dis. July 22, 1919. 

53 Elizabeth St., Ne^v Haven, Conn. 



Private Herman F. Leist ("Duck") 

Born March 31, 1899. Factory hand. Enl. Aug. 21, 
1917, Niantic. Gassed, Flirey, May 27, 1918; hosp., 
'Foul. Trans, to P. W. E. duty. Ret. U. S. and dis. June, 
1".»19. 

h'l Oak St., Neiv Britain, Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



241 




Sergeant Drummond W. Little ("Drummie") 

Born Jan. 20, 1895. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl. Tp. 
B June 15, 1915. Sgt. April 28. 1917; stable sgt. to Aug. 
20th; sgt. in charge Co. motors Feb. 6, 1918. Chemm 
des Dames and Toul. M. G. sch., Gondrecourt. April 
1918. Trans, as M. G. instructor Art. Tr. Cp., deSonge, 
May 10-Sept. 15, 1918. Student Art. Cand. Sch., Sau- 
mur, Sept. 15-Dec. 14, 1918. Rejoined Bn. Dec. 18. 
Trans. Co. H, 101st Inf., Jan. 24th. Ret. U. S, April 
5th; dis. April 28, 1919. Mex. Border, 1916. 

821 Broad St., Hartford, Conn. 





Private Harold J. IMalone ("Ted") 

Born July 1, 1897. Clk., North & Judd Co., New 
Britain. Enl. Tp. B April 24, 1917. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. 
Dec 31, 1917. Rejoined Bn. March 29th. Toul sector. 
Sk. in hosp., Vichy, Tune, 1918. Spec, duty, Nevers 
Nov.-Jan., 1919. Ret. U. S. March 9th; dis. March 
18, 1919. Co. football team. 

55 Glen St., Nnv Britain, Conn. 



Private, 1st Class, John F. Manion ("Doctor") 

Born June 16, 1895. Clk., Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. 

Aug. 23, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, Oct. 17, 1918. 

All spol^ors 

Citation- "The Division Commander is pleased to cite in orders the 
following named men who, by their brave and courageous conduct under 
fire at and near Brabant, north of Verdun, between Oct. 18 and 26, 1918, 
have proved their right to this honor. 




Private John F. Manion, Company B, 101st M. G. Bn 

C. R 

Major 

199 Holcomb St., Hartford, Conn. 



C. R .Edwards 

Major General, Commandiiiij" 



^JM^ 




Private, 1st Class, Edward J. Manning, Jr. 

("Major") 

Bom Jan. 10, 1889. Asst. mgr., paper mill. Enl. 
Aug. 24, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, July lo, 1918. 
All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 23rd. Co. football; 
mgr. Co. baseball team. 

133 Sigourncy St., Hartford, Conn. 



242 



History of Tiik 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Sergeant Howard R. Manning ("Squab") 

Born March 16, 1895. Student, Yale. Enl. Tp. B 
May 15, 1917. Cpl. Aug. 25, 1917; sgt. KMth Inf. Sept. 
12, 1918. Wounded and shell-shocked at Pinon, Chemin 
des Dames, Feb. 21, 1918. Hosp., Bazoilles, June 20-2G, 
1918. Trans. 164th Inf., 41st Depot Div., St. Aignan. 
Ret. U. S. Jan. 21st; dis. Feb. 12, 1919. Co. football 
team. First man in Bn. wounded. 

123 Siiioitnicy St., Hartford, Coiiii. 



i<9K life 








Wagoner Chester O. Matthews ("Chet") 

Born June 8, 1896. With Bennett Metal Treating 
Co., Elmwood, Conn. Enl. Tp. B May 29, 1917. Pvt.. 
1st class, Aug. 29, 1917; wag. March 1, 1918. All sectors. 
Co. football team. 

WuicJicster Ave, Worcester, Mass. 



Sergeant Raymond J. Maun ("Jim") 

Born Nov. 10, 1894. Trainman, Cent. Vt. R. R. 
Enl. April 4, 1917, M. G. Co., 1st Vt. Inf., St. Albans. 

Pvt. 1st cl. April 13, 1917; cpl. June 21, 1917; sgt. Aug. 9, 1917. All 
sectors. Wounded and shell-shocked north Chateau-Thierry July 22; 
hosp. Vittel, to Aug. 1918. M. G. sch., Clamecv, Jan. 2-Feb. 15, 1919. 
A brother, Gordon F. Maun, 103rd M. G. Bn., killed at Torcy. Co. 
football team. Citation: "The following named officers and men who 
displayed marked gallantry and performed service of extraordinary 
value during operations of this Division north of Verdun, between Oct. 
18 and Nov. 11, 1918, are congratulated by the Division Commander 
and are hereby cited in orders. 

Sergeant R.vymond J. M.^un, Comp.\ny B, 101st M. G. B.\. 

c C. K. EuWAKDS 

—3 Mnjor Gi'iitral, Commandiiuj'" 

28 Weldon St., St. Allhiiis, Vt. 



Private George L. W. May ("Baldy") 

Born Jan. 9, 1894. Empl. in paint factory. Dft. July 
6, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga. Arr. France Oct. 4th; 
joined Bn. Dec. 11th. 

No. Billerica, Mass. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



243 



^ 




Private, 1st Class, Arthur E. McCann ("Mac") 

Born Dec. 6, 1897. Clk. Enl. Aug. 23, 1917, Niantic. 
Pvt., 1st class, June 1, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Oct. 
23rd, Verdun. His brother, John J., died Dec. 11, 1918. 
(See page 166). Co. football team. 

10;S High St., So. Manchester, Conn. 





Wagoner Edward F. McGovern ("Mike") 

Born June 29, 1896. Sttident. Enl. Aug. 25, 1917, 
Niantic. Wag. March 1, 1918. All sectors. Sk. in hosp. 
Nov. 9-25, 1918. Det. ser., Le Mans, March 22-June 
2, 1919, and Paris to July 1st. Ret. U. S. July 18th; 
dis. July 22, 1919. 

147 Washington St., Hartford, Conn. 



Cook Patrick F. McVeigh ("Pat") 

Born Dec. 13, 1880. Married. Steward. Enl. Tp. B 
July 17, 1917. Cook July 18, 1917. All sectors. Sk. in 
hosp. Sept. 28-Nov. 6, 1918. 1st Conn. Inf., Spanish 
War, 1898; Mex. Border, 1916. 

Steward, City Club, So. Manchester, Conn. 



Private, 1st Class, George E. Mercer ("Merc") 

Born Aug. 16, 1895. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl. Tp. 
B, Aug. 19, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class. May 1, 1918. 
All sectors. Shell wound July 22d, north Chateau- 
Thierry; hosp., Bazoilles and Mesves to Sept. 12th. 
Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 23rd; hosp. Bellevue and Brest. 
Ret. U. S. Jan. 5th; dis. Jan. 24, 1919. 

75 Julius St., Hartford, Conn. 



244 



History of Thk IOIst Machine Gun Battalion 




Private, 1st Class, Oliver W. Merrow ("Big") 

Born Sept. 27, 1894. Clk., Merrow Mach. Co., Htfd. 
Enl. March G, 1917, Tp. B. Pvt., 1st class, May 6, 1917. 
All sectors. Co. football team. 

34 Forest St., Hartford, Con 11. 



Corporal Charles J. Miel ("Duke") 

Born March 29. 189S. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl. 
Tp. B May 1, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. 

Nov. 6, 191S. Sk. in hosp., Vittel, Dec. 16-23, 1917. All sectors. Co. 
football team. Citation, W. D., April 4, 1921: "Charles Jan Miel, cor- 
poral, Company B, 101st Machine Gun Battalion, 26th Division. For 
galhintry in action in the Houppy Bois, north of Verdun, France, Oc- 
tober 26, 1918, while delivering a message from company to battalion 
headquarters. Although his companion* was mortally wounded by 
enemy artillery fire. Corporal Miel successfully accomplished the mis- 
sion assigned to him. 

By unlcr of the Secretary of War: 

Peyton C. March 

Major General, Chief of Staff" 

120 Sigourney St., Hartford, Conn. 

* Private Louis F. Hart (see page 106) 




Private James H. Miller ("Frisco Slim") 

Born Aug. 30, 1895. Farmer. Dft. July IS, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga. Arr. France Oct. 4th; joined Bn. 
Dec. nth. 

Pavncsvillc, Kv. 




Priv.\te Roy G. Morrell 

Born Sept. 22, 1SS7. Painter. Dft. July G, 191S. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga. ; Selles-.sur-Chcr, Fr. Arr. France, 
Oct. 4th; joined Bn. Dec. 11th. 

Wl Middlesex St., Lowell, Mass. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



245 



H^^^;. 



Private, 1st Class, Norman L. Morrill ("Blondy") 

Born March 23, 1896. Clk., Commercial Trust Co., 
New Britain. Enl. Tp. B June 12, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, 
May 1, 1918. All sectors ex. Meuse-Arg. Sk. in hosp., 
Mesves, Sept. 29-Dec. 13, 1918. 

4^4 Wethcrsfield Ave., Hartford, Conn. 



:,rff^- 




Sergeant Russell N. Nelson ("Russ") 

Born Feb. 16, 1893. Salesman, Stanley Rule & Level 
Co., New Britain. Enl. Tp. B May 4, 1917. Pvt., 1st 
class, Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. April 1, 1918; sgt. Oct. 17, 
1918. All sectors. Co. and Bn. baseball teams. 

121 Maple St., New Britain, Conn. 




Wagoner Ernest E. Norris ("Ernie") 

Born Tune 4, 1897. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl. Tp. B 
May 8, 1917. Wag. March 1, 1918. All sectors. Left 
Bn. Feb. 26, 1919; at Univ. of Rennes xMarch 1-July 1, 
1919. Ret. U. S. July 14th; dis. July 18, 1919. 

696 New Britain Ave., Hartford, Conn. 




Private Clinton C. O'Callahan ("Cal.") 

Born Feb. 19, 1890. Landscape painter. Enl. Aug. 
23, 1917, Niantic. Sk. in hosp. Jan. 30-May 15, 1918, 
Neixf chateau, Vittel, Limoges, Savenay. Assigned P. 
W. E. duty, St. Aignan and Vernueil, Julv 24, 1918. 
Ret. U. S. Jan. 20th; dis. Feb. 3. 1919. ' 

31 No. Marshall St., Hartford, Conn. 



246 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion- 




Wagoner Da\ii) W. Olschefskie ("Dave") 

Born May II, 1895. Buyer, Wise, Smith & Co., 
Htfd. Enl. tp. B May 29, 1917. Wag. March 1, 1918. 
Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Shell 
wound north Chateau-Thierry July 22d; hosp. Chau- 
mont and Mars-sur-Allicrs. Ret. U. S. Jan. 3rd; dis. 
Jan. 28, 1919. 

801 Farm ingf oil Ave, Hartford, Conn. 

Note: Name legally changed to Da\-id Olschefskie 
Wise. 




Private, 1st Class, John A. Ortgies ("Jack") 

Born July 20, 1898. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl. Tp. B 
April 25, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, April 1, 1918. All sec- 
tors. Co. baseball team. 

60 Continental Ave, Forest Hills, L. I. 



Private Antonio Parise ("Tony") 

Born Nov. 11, 1894. Motorman. Dft. Sept. 20, 1917. 
Tr. 301st M. G. Bn., 76th Div., Cp. Devens. Arr. 
France July 28, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 11th. 

Plainvillc, Coim. 



^tBSS** 



\ 



I i 



Pkixate Allen F. Parker C'Corn-Willie") 

Born Aug. 27, 1890. Toolmaker. Enl. Sept. 20, 1917, 
Niantic. All sectors. Gassed, Oct. 23rd, \'crdun; hosp. 
Nov. 2d-Nov. 9th. Co. D, 1st Conn. Inf., 1908-1911; 
4th Co., Conn. Coast Art., 1911-1913; Co. F, 2d Conn. 
Inf., 1916-1917. Mex. Border, 1916. 

Elks Club, New Haven, Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



247 




Sergeant Richard M. Parker ("Dick") 

Born Dec. 9, lSi)3. Surveyor. Enl. M. G. Co., 1st 
Yt. Inf., June 30, 1917, Ft. Ethan Allen. Cpl. Aug. 9, 
1917; sgt. April 10, 1919. All sectors. Det. ser. St. Blin 
and Andelot April 1-May 14, 1918. Gassed, \'erdun, 
Oct. 23rd. Previous training in 1st Vt. Cav., St. John's 
Milit. Acad. 

Monteomcrx, Vt. 




Corporal James A. Parsons ("Jimmie") 

Born Nov. 16, 1891. Watchmaker. Enl. Tp. B June 
20, 1916. P\i;., 1st class. May 25, 1917; cpl. Feb. 1, 
1918. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 23rd; hosp. 
La Mollette and Limoges. Nov. 1-Dec. 20th Mex 
Border, 1916. 

64 Hazel St.. Hartford. Coini. 




Wagoner Richard W. Parsons ("Dick") 

Born Nov. 1, 1891. Clk.. Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Aug. 25, 1917, Niantic. Wag. June 1, 1918. All sectors. 
41 Dccrfield Ave., Hartford. Conn. 




Wagoner Earle A. Penfield ("Camouflage") 

Born Sept. 1, 1895. Insp. Frasse Steel Wks., Htfd. 
Enl. Tp. B April 25, 1917. Wag. Jime 6. 1918. All sec- 
tors. 

14.0 Ashley St., Hartford, Conn. 



248 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Wagoner Benjamin C. Perkins ("Grandpa") 

Born Feb. 6, LSSG. Married. Secy., Arrow Electric 
Co., Htfd. Enl. Aug. 23, 1917, Niantic. Pvt. 1st class, 
Feb. 1, 1918; wag. April 1, 191S. All sectors. 

140 Girani Ave, Hartford, Conn. 



r 1 




Private Albert J. Pierce ("Al") 

Born June 16, 1895. Clk. Enl. July 30. 1917, 2d Miss. 
Inf., N. G., Gulfport. Tr. Cps. lackson, Miss., and 
Alexander, La., 142 M. G. Bn., 39th Div. Arr. France 
Sept. 3, 191S; joined Bn. Dec. 11. 

Gulfport, Aliss. 




Sergeant Sydney D. Pinxey ("Syd") 

Born March 18, 1897. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl. 
Tp. B April 23, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 23, 1917; 
cpl. Aug. 1, 1918; sgt. Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, 
Verdun, Oct. 23rd. Univ. of Manchester, England, 
Feb. 27-July, 1919. Ret. U. S. July 27; dis. Aug. 1, 
1919. Co. and Bn. baseball teams. 

389 Main St., Hartford, Conn. 



■^ 




l*_ 


mv** 


^ 


^B 1 [''y^-< 


'' 


'i.^^ 


rai-' ■■-.;■ J- •■ 


y 



Private, 1st Class, Lowell Poole ("Shorty") 

Born Nov. 25, 1895. Farmer. Dft. Oct. 3, 1917. Tr. 
Cp. Taylor, Ky., 87th Div.; Signal sch., Cp. Pike. 
Pvt., 1st class, Jan. 1, 1918. Arr. France July 1st; 
joined Bn. July 29th. St. Mihicl, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 
Gassed, Oct. 27th, Verdun; hosp. Nov. 4th-Dec. 14th. 
Sk. in hosp., Le Mans, March (5, 1919. Ret. U. S. April 
29th; dis. May 16, 1919. 

R. F. D. No. 1, Ml. Carnid, 111. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



249 




Sergeant Anthony L. Poto ("Pote") 

Born Oct. 14, 1896. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl. Tp. 
B April 25, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 29, 1917; wag. 
March 1, 1918. All sectors. Trans. 26th Div. Hqrs. 
Sept., 1918; sgt. April 17, 1919. Co. and Bn. baseball 
teams; capt. Co. team. 

176 North St., Boston, Mass. 




Corporal Louis C. Recknagel ("Reck") 

Born Oct. 6, 1889. Mechanic. Enl. Aug. 22, 1917, 
Niantic. Mech. Feb. 1, 1918; cpl. Dec. 1, 1918. All 
sectors. Sk. in hosp., Dijon and St. Nazaire, March, 
1919. Ret. U. S. June 19th; dis. June 24, 1919. 

110 Camp St., Nnv Britain, Conn. 




Priyate, 1st Class, William A. Relyea ("Bill") 

Born Oct. 16, 1894. Optician. Enl. Sept. 28, 1917, 
Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 1, 1918. All sectors. 
Gassed, Oct. 28th, Verdun; hosp. Limoges Nov. 2, 1918- 
March, 1919. 

41 Preston St., Hartford, Co)in. 




Private, 1st Class, Denzil H. Rhea ("Dennie") 

Born July 2, 1898. Student. Enl. March 31, 1917, 
1st W. Ya. Inf., N. G.; Pvt., 1st class, Feb. 3, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Shelby, Miss. Arr. France Aug., 1918; joined 
Bn. Dec. 22d. With another unit in Meuse-Arg. Mex. 
Border, W. Va. N. G., 1916. 

Flativoods, W . Va. 



250 



History of Tiik 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Corporal Robert R. Rikpsame ("Bob") 

Born Nov. 1, 1893. Student, Norwich Univ. Enl. 
Aug. 23, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, April 1, 191S; 
cpl. Aug. 1, 1918. All sectors. Univ. of Rennes, Fr., 
Feb. 26th-July 1st. Ret. U. S. July 14th; dis. July 19, 
1919. Co. football and baseball teams. Four years in 
1st Vt. Cav., Norwich Univ. 

Wctlicr.sficld, Conn. 




Private, 1st Class, Giuseppe Risso ("Joe") 

Born July 10, 1892. Construction foreman. Dft. 
Sept. 20, 1917, Devens. Joined Bn. Sept. 21st, Niantic. 
Private, 1st class, May 1, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, 
Verdun, Oct. 23rd. 

328 E. Main Si., Torrington, Conn. 




Corporal Gordon M. Robinson ("Robbie") 

Born June 22, 1893. With Stanley Rule & Level Co., 
New Britain. Enl. Tp. B May 4, 1917. L. cpl. April 1, 
1918; c])l. June 1, 1918. All sectors ex. Meuse-Arg. 
Shell-shock July 22d, north Chateau-Thierry; hosp., 
Bazoillcs; rejoined Aug. 29th. Trans. Sept. 29th, Per- 
sonnel I)iv., Cent. Records Office, G. H. Q., Paris. 
Trans. Dec. 5th, Hqrs., 86th Div., Personnel work. 
Ret. U. S. and dis. Jan. 21, 1919. Co. footbaU and base- 
ball teams; Bn. Imseball. 

J4 Ilci'i'ison Si., New Britain. Conn. 




Corporal Elford P. Rogers ("Ell") 

Born March 17, 1890. Merchant. Married July 19, 
1917. Enl. Tp. B April 25, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, July 18, 
1917; cpl. Feb. 1, 1918. Chemin dcs Dames, Toul, 
Chateau-Thierry. Shell wound July 22d, north Cha- 
teau-Thierry; hosp., Vittel and Limoges. Invalided U. 
S. Jan. 7, 1919. Hosp., Boston, and Fox Hills, Staten J. 
Dis. Oct. 14, 1!)20. 

.\ia)ili(\ Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun B 



ATTALION 



251 




1 



Sergeant Erle Rogers ("Pop") 
Born March 19, 1881. Agt., Mass. Mut. Life Ins. 
Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. B April 29, 1913. Trumpeter Auc^ 
6, 1914; pvt., 1st class, Jan. 22, 1917; cpl. April 28, 1917- 
supply sgt. Aug. 23, 1917. All sectors ex. Troyon and 
Meuse-Arg. Army Cand. Sch., Langres, Sept. 12-Dec. 
10, 1918. Armistice prevented receiving commission 
Mex. Border, 1916. 

86 Bloomfield Ave, Windsor, Conn. 





Private, 1st Class, Richmond Rucker ("Dixie") 
Born May 10,_1896. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl. Tp. 



Pvt., 1st class, July 18, 1917. All 



B April 23, 1917 
sectors. 

4U W. Jfth St., Winston-Sakm, N. C. 



Sergeant Joseph A. Ryan ("Joe") 

Born Sept. 3, 1896. Student, Carnegie Tech. Enl 
Tp. B May 1, 1917. Wag. May 1, 1918; sgt., Tank 
Corps, June 14, 1918. With Bn. Chemin des Dames and 
Toul. Trans. 344th Tank Bn. June 6th, training at 
Langres. At St. Mihiel and Meuse-Arg. Gassed Oct 
6th; hosp., Dijon, to Dec. Ret. U. S. March 3rd; dis. 
April 11, 1919. Co. football team. Army citation: "For 
gallantry in action 28th Sept., 1918, during the Meuse- 
Argonne Offensive, in going to the aid of a wounded 
comrade under heavy enemy fire." Co. football team. 

2 Litchfield St., Hartford, Conn. 



Private Stefan Sancyzk ("Gypsy") 

Born March 10, 1894. Weaver. Dft. Sept. 20, 1917, 
Cp. Devens. Joined Bn., Niantic, Sept. 21st. All sec- 
tors. Shell wound north Chateau-Thierry, July 22d- 
gassed, Verdun, Oct. 23rd. ' ' 

Stoniiigton, Conn. 



«••--- -— . 



■Miv ^-^m 



252 



History of Thk 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Private, 1st Class, Howard L. Sargent ("Pete") 

Born Aug. 9, 1896. Student, Yale. Enl. Aug. 23, 
1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, Feb. 1, 1918. Chemin 
des Dames and Toul. Sk. in hosp. May 31, 1918-Jan. 
1919. 10th Fd. Art. (Yale Batt'y) June-Oct. 1916! 

3()0 Edwards St., New Haven, Conn. 




-^Wk 



Private, 1st Class, Finer Sather ("Ike") 

Born Sept. 25, 1891. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl. Tp. 
B June 5, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917. Chemin 
des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Sk. in hosp., Ba- 
zoilles and Savenay, Sept. 12th-Dec. 30th. 

800 Asylum Ave., Hartford, Conn. 



IX 



L.<; 




-* 




Sergeant Harry F. Sceery ("Harry") 

Born July 19, 1889. Clk., Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. B Aug. 19, 1917, Niantic. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Dec. 
31, 1917; to Dep. Div., 1st Corps, March 2-1. 1918. Sgt. 
July 27th. Ret. U. S. Feb. 14th; dis. Feb. 24, 1919. 

ISS Main St., Wcthcrsficld, Conn. 





Wagoner Alford T. Schade ("Sh.\d") 

Born Nov. 24, 1893. Clk., Stanley Rule & Level Co. 
New Britain. Enl. Tp. B May 15, 1917. Wag. March 1, 
1918. All sectors. Co. and Bn. baseball teams. 

')!)7 Arch St., New Britain, Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



253 




Mess Sergeant Paul Schuman ("Paul") 

Born March 17, 1S88. Baker. Enl. Aug. 23, 1917, 

Niantic. Cook Oct. 1, 1917; mess sgt. April 10,' 1919.' 

All sectors. Sk. in Parker Hill Hosp., Boston, April 7 

1919. Dis. May 10, 1919. ^ ^ > 

Albany Ave., West Hartford, Conn. 




Private William H. Shelley ("Weeyum") 

Born Oct. 16, 1893. Tailor. Dft. Sept. 20, 1917. Tr. 
Cps. Dodge and Pike, 352d Inf. Arr. France July 6th- 
joined Bn. July 28, 1918. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse- 
Arg. 

oOl Cherry St., Eric, Pa. 





& 



Wagoner Joseph H. Slater ("Slats") 

Born April 22, 1897. Asst. foreman, Stanley Works, 
New Britain. Enl. Aug. 23, 1917, Niantic. Wag. March 
1, 1918. All sectors. Trans. Div. Train and M. P 
Hqrs., Nov. 20, 1918. Ret. U. S. April 18th; dis. April 
29, 1919. Previous service in U. S. Navy. Co. football 
team. 

■5.93 W. Main St., New Britain. Conn. 



Private Robert T. Smith ("Bob") 
Born Dec. 27, 1898. Clk. Enl. July 7, 19 1: 



Ft. 



Jackson, Ga., 5th Ga. Inf., N. G. Tr. Cp. Wheeler, Ga. 
Arr. France July 2, 1918; joined Bn. late July. St. 
Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 

No. Clayton St., Lawrencevillc, Ga. 



254 



History of Tuk IOIst Machine Gun Battalion 




Privatk, 1st Class, Wii.i iam L. Smith ("Bill") 

Born Oct. 15, 1S9G. Bond salesman. Enl. Aug. 20, 
1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, April 1, 1918. All sectors. 
Shell wound Oct. 23rd, Verdun; hosp., Mesves and Bor- 
deaux. Ret. U. S. March 4th; dis. March 2S, 1919. 
Four years Harvard Milit. Sch., Los Angeles; U. S. In- 
struction cp., Monterey, Cal., 1914. 

1010 U'iis/iiii'^loii Si., Sdii Frdiifisro, Cal. 



Private Joseph D. Staph ("Aviator") 

Born May 24, 1898. Empl., Underwood Typewriter 
Co., Htfd. Enl. Aug. 20. 1917, Niantic. Wounded near 
Torcy, July IS, 1918; hosp. Chaumont, St. Nazaire and 
Brest. Invalided home Oct. 1st; hosp. at Rahwav, X. J. 
Dis. Jan. 18, 1919. 

Bloo)nlicld, Conn. 






y^ 



Private, 1st Class, Edward C. Stephexsox 

("Steve") 

Born Nov. 28, 1898. Machinist. Enl. Aug. 1, 1917, 
1st Indiana Inf., N. G. Pvt., 1st class, Dec. 1, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Shelby, 38th Div. Arr. France June 25th; 
joined Bn. July 28th. St. Mihicl, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 
(}assed, Verdun, Oct. 23rd. 

525 E. New York St., Ind'uuuipolis, Ind. 



dk. 




Private, 1st Class, Alfred G. Stoughton ("Curly") 

Born March 3, 1895. Clk., W. G. Stoughton & Son, 
E. Htfd. Enl. Sept. 28, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, 
July 18, 1918. All sectors. 

1231 Main Si., Easl Ilaiifdrd. Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



255 




Corporal Reuel C. Stratton ("Strat") 

Born Aug. 2S, 1893. Chemist, New Departure Mfg. 
Co., Bristol. Enl. Tp. B June 12, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, 
Feb. 1, 1918; cpl. Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, 
Oct. 23rd, Verdun. 

820 Wethers field Ave., Hartford, Conn. 




i 



Private James G. Swift ("Jimmie") 

Born March 25, 1895. Clk., Thomson, Fenn & Co., 
Htfd. Enl. Tp. B May 27, 1917. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. 
Jan. 9, 1918; rejoined Bn. March 26th. All sectors ex. 
Chemin des Dames and Meuse-Arg. Sk. in hosp. Oct. 
15-Dec. 20, 1918. Co. and Bn. baseball; Co. football 
team. 

55 Harbison Ave., Hartford, Conn, 



^^- 




Mech. Lyal S. Tefft ("Teffty") 

Born April 9, 1894. Married. Machinist. Enl. Aug. 
20, 1917, Niantic. Mech. Oct. 1, 1917. Det. ser.. Motor 
Repair Shop No. 1, Sept. 26-Xov. 4, 1918. All sectors. 

Glastonbury, Conn. 




Private Ernest C. Tiede ("Teed") 

Born July 8, 1893. Married. Contractor. Dft. May 
13, 1918". Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga. Arr. France Sept. 3rd"; 
joined Bn. Dec. 11th. 

50 Fairfield Ave., Biifalo, N. Y. 



i ^»«V., 



256 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




i****'! 



Corporal Arthur W R. Tiltox ("Art") 

Born April 27, 1897. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl. Tp. 
B April 25, 1917. Pvt., 1st class Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. 
April 10, 1919. All sectors. 

Ii2£ Sigourney St., Hartford, Coiui. 



Private Carmine F. Tirelli ("Carmen") 

Born July 3, 1895. Teamster. Dft. Oct. 8, 1917. Tr. 
Cp. Upton, N. Y., 304th M. G. Bn., 27th Div. Arr. 
France March 19th; joined Bn. Dec. 11th. 

100 Park St., New York, N. Y. 




Private William L. Triplet ("Red") 

Born April 2, 1895. Farmer. Enl. June 9, 1917. 3rd 
Ark. Inf., N. G. Tr. Cp. Beauregard, La., Ulst M. G. 
Bn. Arr. France June 11th; joined Bn. July 29th. St. 
Mihiel,Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 23rd; 
hosp. Nov. 1-Dec. 2, 1918, Rimaucourt. Sk. in hosp., 
Le Mans, March 20, 1919. Ret. U. S. julv 12th; dis. 
July 23, 1919. 

Emerson, Ark. 



Pki\ate, 1st Class, Clarenx'e A. L'shkr ("Ush") 

liorn .\ov. 16, 1896. Clk. Enl. Aug. 21, 1917, Nian- 
tic. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 1, 191S. AH sectors. 

70 East St., Rockvillc, Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



257 




Wagoner Harry G. Valentine ("Black Snake") 

Born Sept. 11, 1893. Married Sept. 30, 1917. Con- 
ductor, Htfd. St. Ry. Co. Enl. Aug. 20, 1917, Niantic 
Wag. March 1, 1918. All sectors. Sk. in hosp., Nantes 
Dec. 26, 1918, until ret. U. S. March 19th; dis. April 17' 
1919. ^ 

169 Maple Ave, Hartjord, Conn. 




Wagoner Bulkeley Van Schaack ("Buck") 

Born August 12, 1896. Student, Williams Coll. Enl 
Aug. 20, 1917, Niantic. Wag. April 1, 1918. All sectors. 
888 Asylum Ave., Hartford, Conn. 




Private Giuseppe Venizia ("Joe") 

Born Sept. 21, 1887. Stone-mason. Dft. Sept. 19, 
1917, Cp. Devens. Joined Bn. Sept. 21, Niantic. All 
sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. Det. ser., St. Blin Bn 
baggage Feb. 8-Mar. 26th. 

Kings Highway, Westport, Conn. 




Private Walter E. Wade ("Walt") 
Born July 16, 1895. Farmer. Dft. Sept. 18, 1917. 

Tr. cps. Pike and Beauregard, 153rd Inf. Arr. France 

Sept. 3rd; joined Bn. Dec. 9, 1918. 
Adona, Ark. 



258 



History of The IUIst Maciiink Gun Battalion' 




Corporal Arthur P. R. Wadlund (''Art") 

Born Nov. 21, 1895. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl. Tp. 
B May 1, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 1, 1917; cpl. Aug. 1, 
1918. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 23rd; hosp. 
Nov. 9th-Dec. 6th, AUerey. Ret. U. S. Jan. 31st; dis. 
Feb. 12, 1919. 

30 Fairvicw St., Hartford, Coini. 




Pvt., 1st Class, Frank C. Wadsworth ("Waddie") 

Born March 1, 1898. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Aug. 21, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, Sept. 21, 1918. 
All sectors. Gassed, Oct. 23rd, Vcrdvm; hosp. Nov. 2d- 
17th; rejoined Bn. Nov. 27th. 

Wtirchoiisc Ft., Conn. 




Private Edward L. Walters ("Eddie") 

Born May 7, 1895. Farmer. Dft. July 5. 191S. Tr. 
Cp. Hancock, Ga. and Selles-sur-Cher, Fr. Arr. France 
Oct. 4th; joined Bn. Dec. 10th. 

Prairie du Cl/icn, Wis. 



Corporal Gardner C. Weld ("Cuzzy") 

Born Dec. 9, 1891. Stock broker, R. T. H. Barnes 
& Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. B May 15, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, 
Aug. 23, 1917; cpl. Feb. 1, 1918. Chemin des Dames, 
Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Shell wound July 22d north 
Chateau-Thierry; hosp., Chaumont and Alesves. Ret. 
U. S. March 24; dis. April 4, 1919. Co. football team. 

43 Pari; Place, New Britain, Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



259 




Private Walter Wellauer ("vSwiss") 

Born May 21, 1891. Farmer. Dft. July 3, 1918. Tr. 
Cp. Hancock, Ga., and Selles-sur-Cher, Fr. Arr. France 
Oct. 4th; joined Bn. Dec. 10th. 

]'ci-0)ia, ]]'is. 




Private Edward G. Wendt ("Whity") 

Born Sept. 16, 1896. Machinist. Enl. Oct. S, 1917, 
Niantic. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Dec. 31, 1917; rejoined 
101st March 26, 1918. All sectors ex. Meuse-Arg. 
Shell wound July 22d, Epieds; hosp., Bazoilles, to July 
30th. Sk. in hosp. Sept. 12-Dec. 7. 1918. After dis., 
re-enlisted in U. S. Army. 

158 Cai-cw St., Springfield, Mass. 




ijyjll^;" 



Private, 1st Class, James A. White ("Jimmie") 

Born Ian. 11, 1888. Married. Laborer. Dft. Sept. 4, 
1917. fr. Cps. Dodge and Pike, 349th Inf. Pvt., 1st 
class, Nov. 6, 1918. Arr. France July 1st; joined Bn. 
July 29th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 

904 E. Center St., Pa.xton, III. 




Sergeant Grenville D. Whitney ("Gren") 

Born luly 16, 1893. Stock broker, Thomson, Fenn & 
Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. B Feb. 16, 1916. Pvt., 1st class. 
May 1, 1917; cpl. May 25, 1917; sgt. April 1, 1918. All 
sectors. Army Cand. vSch., La Valbonne. Oct. 15th- 
Feb. 1st. At L'Univ. de Poitiers Feb. 26-July 1, 1919. 
Ret. U. S. luly 20th; dis. July 28, 1919. Mex. Border, 
1916 

41 Evergreen Ave., Hartford, Conn. 



2(J0 



History of Thk 101st AIaciiink Gun Battalion 




Privatk Edwaki) Williams ("Xicgkk") 

Born Oct. 17, ISDS. Farmer. Dft. Dec. 0, l'.)17. 'I'r. 
Cps. Harrison and Wheeler, (ja., 12 1st Inf. Arr. France 
July 4th; joined Bn. July 2!), 191S. St. Mihiel, Troyon, 
Meuse-Arg. Sk. in hosp. Nov. 4-Dec. 14, 1918. 

Martin, Ga. 



1^ 

Aniiiml^i 



^.. 



Sergeant Harold G. Williams ("Sailor") 

Born Dec. 21, 1<S!)4. Yeoman, 2d class, U. S. Navy; 
(lis. July 30, li)17. Enl. Sept. 27, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 
1st class, Feb. 1, 1918; cpl. April 1st; sgt. Oct. 17, 1918. 
All sectors. Gassed Oct. 27th, Verdun. Four years, 
U. S. N.; at occupation of Vera Cruz. Mexico, 1914. 

Moosup, Conn. 



^X 




Sergeant Percy H. Williams ("Perc") 

Born July 9, 1894. Clk., J. B. Williams & Co., Glas- 
tonbury', Conn. Enl. Tp. B, April 4, 1917. Pvt., 1st 
class. May 20, 1917; 1. cpl. Aug. 15th; cpl. Aug. 23, 1917; 
sgt. June 1, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 
27th. Gas sch., Gondrecourt, Aug. 10-17, 1918. 10th 
Fd. Art. (Yale Batt'y), C. N. G., Oct. 19iri-Dec. 1916. 

Cilastonburv, Conn. 





Private Antonio Yenco ("Yonc") 

Born 1888. Laborer. Dft. Sept. 20, 1917, Cp. Devens. 
Joined Bn. Sept. 21st, Niantic. All sectors. W^ounded, 
accidental discharge of French rifle at Chemin des 
Dames; hosp. one month, Paris. 

Water ford, Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



261 




Private, 1st Class, John M. Younger ("Snakes") 

Born Sept. 27, 1898. Machinist. Enl. 3rd Ky. Inf., 
N. G., June 5, 1917. Tr. cp. Shelby, Miss., 138th M. G. 
Bn., 38th Div. Arr. France, June; joined Bn. July 28, 
1918. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Gassed and 
wounded, Verdun, Oct. 23rd; hosp. Savenay; rejoined 
later. Sk. in hosp. March 20, 1919. Ret. U. S. April: 
dis. May 14, 1919. 

168 Alabama Ave., Lexington, Ky. 



Private Joe Zurik ("Bullet") 

Born Dec. 10, 1893. Paper maker. Dft. Sept. 20, 

1917, Cp. Devens. Joined Bn. Sept. 21st, Niantic. 
Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Dec. 31, 1917; rejoined March 26, 

1918. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. Gassed, Ver- 
dun, Oct. 23rd. Sk. in hosp. March 20, 1919. (Later 
changes not known.) 

Uncasville, Conn. 




Private Jesse Baker 

Dft. Joined Bn. Dec. 8, 1918. Dis. Apr. 29. Rec- 
ord missing. 



Company C 











Sergeant George C. Ackley ("Zeke") 

Born June S, 1895. Married. Salesman. Enl. March 
10, 1914, Co. A, 1st Vt. Inf., Rutland. Cpl. March 14th; 
sgt. Aug. 16, 1917. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau- 
Thierry. Trans. Army Cand. Sch., Langres, Sept. 12, 
191S. Rejoined Bn. Dec. 10th. Owing to armistice was 
not commissioned. Mex. Border 1916. 



.;4 



High St., Rutland, 17. 




Private Howard J. Adams ("Brownie") 

Born May 28, 1898. Basket-maker. Enl. Mav 29, 
1917, 1st Maryland Inf. Tr. Cp. McClellan, Ala. Arr. 
France April, 1918. Joined Bn. May loth. All sectors 
ex. Chemin des Dames. Gassed, Oct. 25th, Verdun; 
hosp., Limoges, to Dec. 24th. 

Laurel, Del. 



Private Arthur W. Ai.hkk ("Shakkspeare") 

Born Jan. 26, 1892. Farmer. Dft. May 13, 1918. Tr. 
Cp. Hancock, Ga. Arr France Aug. 6th; joined Bn. 
Sept. ()th. St. Mihicl, Troyon. Meuse-Arg. Gassed, 
Oct. 29th, Verdun. 

Hale Eddw N. Y. 



History of The 101 st Machine Gun Battali 



ON 



263 




Private Dominic Alfano ("Mike") 

Born Dec. 2, 1894. Factory hand. Dft. Sept. 19. 1917 
Tr. .303rd M. G. Bn., 76th Div., Cp. Devens. Arr. 
France Aug. 4, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 8th. 

108 Ward St., Hartford, Conn. 




Corporal Elton M. Allen ("Pop") 

Born Feb. 24. 1890. Clk., Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. L. May 8, 1917. Pvt. 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. 
April 1, 1918. Chemin des Dames, Toul. Gassed, April 
20th, Mandres; hosp. Toul. Rejoined Dec. 16th. Two 
yrs. milit. training at Univ. of Vt. Recommended for 
citation while in hosp. at Toul. Although still suffer- 
ing from effects of gas, he voluntarily assisted in tak- 
ing care of patients having contagious diseases. 

Barnet, Vi. 



1st Sergeant William P. Allen ("Bill") 

Born June 19, 1893. Auto salesman. Enl. Tp. L, 
Niantic, Aug. 2, 1917. Pvt. 1st class, Aug. 27th; cpl. 
Oct. 3rd; sgt. Dec. 13, 1917; 1st sgt. Aug. 1, 1918. All 
sectors. Trans. Army Cand. Sch., La Valbonne, Oct. 
14th. Owing to armistice was not commissioned. Ret. 
U. S. and dis. March 13, 1919. Co. football team. 

26 Owen St., Hartford, Conn. 



j^jJ^K---^ I ■ ^^»>f»| 




Corporal Ernest E. Alton ("Ernie") 

Born Dec. 7, 1890. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. 
L, May 29, 1917. Pvt. 1st class, Aug. 1, 1917; cpl. Oct. 
1, 1918. All sectors. Shell wound, Verdun, Oct. 23rd; 
hosp. to Dec. 9th. Co. K, 1st Inf., C. N. G., 1910-13. 

Silver Lane, East Hartford, Conn. 



204 



History of Thk 101st Machink Gun Battalion 




Privatk Hkxry a. Amann ("Hank'") 

Born Oct. 14. ISOO. Married. Plumber. Dft. May 
25. 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock. Ga. Arr. France Aug. 6th; 
joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel. Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 

WIS Boston Road, Nrw York, X. Y. 




Private Oscar R. Anderson ("Bob") 

Bom Jan. 23. 1S90. Brass moulder. Dft. May 11, 
1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock. An-. France Aug. 10th; joined 
Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Miliiel. Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Ga-ssed. 
Verdun, Oct. 29th; hosp. to Dec. 28th. 

309 Broodii\iv, So. Bosloii. Mtiss. 



Private Sherman Andersen ("Sherm") 

Born Sept. 23, 189o. Married. Paper business. Dft. 
May 11, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock. An'. France Aug. 9th; 
joined Bn. Sept. 8th. Gassed, Verdun. Oct. 29th; hosp., 
Limoges to Jan. 30, 1919. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse- 
Arg. Ret. U. S. Feb. 13;dis. Feb. 25, 1919. 

Dexter, X. Y. 




l^KU ATE. 1st Class. 1-3d\vakii M. Annis (,"En") 

IkM-n Nov. 8, 1899. Fanner. Enl. Apr. 4, 1917, Co. C, 
1st Vt. Inf. All sectoi-s. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 23rd; 
hosp. to Dec. 12th. 

West Burke. Yl. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



265 




Private George B. Arnold ("Slim") 

Born March 30, 1890. Metal polisher. Dft. May 11, 
I!) 18. Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 8th; joined 
Bn. Sept. 9, 1918. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 
Gassed, Oct. 23rd, Verdun; hosp., Langres, Nov. 26- 
Dec. 28, 1918. 

S Normal CiDUpits, Cortland, X . Y . 



Private Robert D. Baker ("Doc") 

Bom Oct. 7, 1899. Fanner. Enl. June 15, 1917, Co. 
C, 1st Vt. Inf. All sectors. Shell wound, \>rdun, Oct. 
23rd; hosp., Mesves. Rejoined Bn., Dec. 22, 1918. 

Wasliiio'lon. 17. 



V^ ' --^ 




Wagoner Edward B. Barnes ("Ed") 

Bom Aug. 21, 1891. Ice dealer. Enl. Xiantic Oct. 2, 
1917. Wag. April 1, 1918. All sectors. Det. ser., Div. 
Hqrs., Eccomoy, Nov. 20, 191S-April 18, 1919. 

208 Sumner St., Bristol, Con)!. 




Pri\ate, 1st CL.A.SS, George H. Barnes ("George") 

Bom March I, 1895. Medical student. Enl. Niantic 
Aug. 23, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917. All sec- 
tors ex. Meuse-Arg. Gassed, Mandres, April 20th; hosp. 
to Mav 1, 1918. Sk. in hosp., Vichy, Sept. 23-Jan. 14, 
1919. 10th Fd. Art. (Yale Batt'y), Dec. 1916-June 
1917. Co. football team. 

Woodbury, Conn. 



2G() 



History of Tiik IOIst Machine Gun Battalion 




CoKPOKAi, Hknry C. Barrows ("Hkx") 

Horn May !), 1898. Auto supply salesman. Enl. Aul,'. 
27, 1917, Niantic. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Dec. ;-!l. \\)]7. 
Cpl. May. 1918. Ret. U. vS. April r2th: dis. May 4. 1919. 

4d L'nicohi St.. Hartford, Coiiit. 




Pkivatk Li.oyd \V. Bi:a(ii ("Sandy") 

Born May 22, 1895. Accountant. Enl. Niantic Aug. 
21, 1917. Chemin dcs Dames. Toul, Chateavi-Thierry. 
Shell wound, north Chateau-Thierry, Inly 2;ith; hosp., 
Nantes. Rejoined Jan. 17, 1919. 

/AS' Ilinclhoruc St., Hartford. Conn. 




Privatk Mii.es a. Bf.rry ("Bk.rry") 

Born Nov. 4, 1895. Mechanic. Enl. Dec. A. 191(), 
Co. D, 1st Vt. Inf., St. Johnsburv. All sectors. Trans. 
Sept. 12, 1918, ]()2d M. G. Bn. "(n'lsscd, Verdun, Oct. 
22d. 

,SY; Railroad St., Si. Johnshiirw 17. 




Private Lee P. Bibkat ("Frog") 

Born lunc (5,1897. Factory hand. Enl. Niantic, Sept. 
29, 1917". All sectors. Trans. Div. Heirs., Oct. 15, 1918, 
as orderly to Col. Howard. Ret. U. S. Dec. 24th; dis. 
Jan. 24, 1919. 

6U7 Zion Si., Hartford, Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



267 




Private Charles C. Bill ("Carroll") 

Born Aug. 11, 1890. Clk., Htfd. St. Ry. Co. Enl. Tp. 
L, June 5, 1917. Dis. physical disability Aug. <S, 1917. 
Dft. Sept. 8, 1918; assigned Constr. Div., Cp. Upton. 
Dis. May 28, 1919. 

27 Annawan St., Hartford, Conn. 





^^^^M 


':a 



Private, 1st Class, Douglas A. Blease ("Doug") 

Born Jan. 4, 1895. Clk., Conn. Mutual Life Ins. Co. 
Enl. Tp. L, June 5, 1917. Pvt.. 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917. 
All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 27th. 

liO Trcmonf St., Hartford, Conn. 




Private Louis Boccaccixo ("Boc") 

Born Jan. 17, 1894. Repairer musical insts. Dft. 
May 25, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 9th. 
joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 

34s East U7th St., Nciv York, X. Y. 



Corporal Conrad W. Bohmax ("Connie") 

Born Feb. 27, 1894. Clk., Aetna Ace. & Liab. Co. 
Enl. Tp. L, Niantic, Aug. 19, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Oct. 
1, 1918; mech. Nov. 11th; cpl.. Dec. 1, 1918; Co. clk. 
All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 23rd. Co. football 
team. 

142 Barbour St., Hartford, Conn. 



268 



History of Tin; IDlsr Machine Gun Battalion 




Pkivatf. William H. Bowers ('"Bill") 

Born Aug. 14. 1S92. Clk. Dft. Sept. li), 1917. Tr. 
Cp. Devens. Arr. France ]ulv '23. 1918; ioined Bn. Dee. 
9th. 

-V.' U'illoic St.. Wahrbiirw Conn. 




Private, 1st Class, Leonard C. Bradbury ("Brad") 

Born Xov. 29, 1S9(). Clk., Scottish Union Ins. Co.. 
Htfd. Enl. Xiantie. Aug. 21, 1917. P\-t., 1st class, April 
17, 19 IS. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 27th. 

Soiitli Covoilrv, Co)i)i. 




Bugler Leon C. Bradley ("Brad'.') 

Born [une 12, 1S98. Student. Enl. Tp. L, May 22, 
1917. Bglr. July!), 1917. All sectors. Co. football team. 
4S Harrison St., Xnc Britain, Co)i)i. 



Wagoner Herbert A. Branx ("Herbie") 

Born Sept. (i. 1S9.'). Draftsman. Xcw Departure Mfg. 
Co. Enl. Tp. L .Vpril 2:.. Mtl7. Wag. April 1. U»1S. All 
sectors. 

.)/ Columbia St., A'fw Britain, Conn. 



History of The 10 1st Machine Gun Batta 



LION 



269 



^asw^ 












Sergeant JaxMes H. Brexnan ("J") 

Born Feb. 7, 1889. Auto tire insp. Enl. Niantic, Aug. 
2h 191/ . Pvt.. 1st class, Aug. 1, 1918; cpl. Oct. 1, 1918- 
^?:. Nov 16, 1918. All sectors. Shell wound, north 
Chateau-Thierry July 2oth. Sk. in hosp., Chaumont, 
Nov. 10-Dec. 16, 1917. 

7()S Farmington Ave., Hartford, Conn. 




Private, 1st Class, Wesley F. Brewer ("Wes") 
Born Feb. 1, 1898. Clk., Htfd. Fire Ins. Co. Enl. Tp 
L, June 5, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Nov. 11, 1918. AU sec- 
tors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 27th; hosp.. Bordeaux Nov 
3rd-Dec. 10th. 

91 Whitman Ave, West Hartford, Conn. 



Corporal Royton T. Bristoll ("Roy") 
Born Feb. 23, 1886. Clk. Enl. June 21, 1916 Tp \ 
C. X. G., New Haven. Trans. Tp. B, Jan. 11, 1917; Tp.' 
L, April 14. 1917. Pv^., 1st class, Aug. 1st; cpl., Aug. 
-'. 191 i. Shell wound, Trugny, July 22d; hosp., Ba- 
zoilles and \'auclaire. Chemin des Dames, Toul Cha- 
teau-Thierry. Ret. U. S. Dec. 22d; hosp., Ellis I. to 
Jan. 1st; dis. Jan. 9, 1919. Mex. Border, 1916. 
Orange St., Newark, N. J. 




Private Harry Brodsky ("AIike") 

BomApril 1,1892. Cigar maker. Dft. May 25, 1918. 
Ir. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 7th; joined Bn 
Sept. Sth. St. Mihiel and Meuse-Arg. Sk. in hosp 
Langres, Nov. 29th-Dec. 14th. 

73 Xru'berry St., West Sotnervi/le, Mass. 



270 



IIisioKY OF The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Private, 1st Class, William H. Brooks ("Slki'th") 

Born Oct. 15, 1893. Metal polisher. Enl. June 19, 
1917, Co. D, 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. Pvt., 1st 
class, Aug. 1, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 
27th; hosp., Nov. 4th-Dec. 18th. 

4 Orchard St., St, Johnsbury, Vt. 




Sergeant William W. Buck ("Bill") 

Born June 5, 1890. Clk., T- B. Williams Co., Glaston- 
bury. Enl. Tp. B, March 30, 1915. Trans. Tp. L, April 
14, 1917. Cpl. May 8, 1917; sgt. Aug. 27, 1917; supply 
sgt. Sept. 1, 1917; ret. to line sgt. April 1, 1918. Chemin 
des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Shell wound north 
Chateau-Thierry July 25tli; hosp., Bazoilles, Vichy, 
Brest. Invalided U. S. Dec. 21, 1918; hosp., cps. Mer- 
ritt and U]Dton. Dis. March 20, 1919. Mex. Border, 
1910. 

Care J . B. Williams Co.. Clastoiiburw Conn. 




Corporal Thomas F. Burke ("Tom") 

Born July 25, 1893. Tobacco farmer. Enl. Tp. L, 
June 5, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. Dec. 
(), 1918. All sectors. Co. football team. 

14 Prospect St., East Hartford, Conn. 




Pri\atk Hadlf.v Burxham ("Bunny") 

Born May 19, 1897. Factory hand. Enl. June 30, 
1917, Co. C", 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. All sectors. 

I'vde /'ark, Vermont. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



271 




Mechanic Harold F. Burnham ("Luke") 

Born Feb. 10, 1893. Stenog. Enl. July 2, 1917, Co. 
C, 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. Pvt., 1st class, Oct. 1, 
1918; mech. Dec. 3rd. All sectors. Gassed Oct. 27th, 
Verdun. 

Hyde Park, Vt. 




Private George F. Brynes ("Fat") 

Born Jan. 5, 1893. Machinist. Dft. May 25, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. oth; joined Bn. 
Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Wounded 
and gassed Oct. 27th, Verdun. 

1231 Webster Ave., New York, N. Y. 




Private William V. Caldara ("Cal") 

Born April 26, 1890. Sheet metal worker. Dft. Jan. 
2, 1918. Tr. Cp. Upton, 77th Div. Arr. France March 
10th; joined Bn. June 5th. All sectors ex. Chemin des 
Dames. 

249 Johnson Ave, Brooklyn, X. Y. 



^ 



m~^ 



><**sBBp^"' 



V 



Private Antonio Caraccio ("Tony") 

Born April 5, 1888. Electrician. Dft. May 29, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 9th; joined Bn. 
Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Gassed, 
Oct. 27th, Verdun. Left Bn. and ret. U. S. Aui?. 1, 1919; 
dis. Aug. 18, 1919. 

67' West 169th St., New York, N. Y. 



^^' 



272 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Private John F. Carlson ("Jack") 

Born June 22, 1888. Farmer. Dft. May 10, 1918. Tr. 
Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 7th; joined Bn. Sept. 
Nth. St, Miliiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 

Jamestown, N . Y . 




Private William P. Cassidy ("Cass") 

Bom Sept. 10, 1887. Ice dealer. Dft. April 29, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock. i\rr. France Aug. 6th; joined Bn. 
Sept. 6th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 

754 Broadway, Nnvbiirg, N. Y. 




Pri\ate Anthony Cervone ("Tony") 

Born Jan. 5, 1895. Carpenter. Dft. May 10, 1918. Tr. 
Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 5th; joined Bn. Sept. 
8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Gassed, Oct. 27th, 
Verdun. 

8.9 Byron Si., East Boston. Mass. 



Corporal Thomas H. Chambers ("Tom") 

Born July 18, 1892. Clk. Dft. March 17, 1918. Tr. 
C^p. Green, N. C, 39th Inf., 4th Div. Arr. France May 
17th. Cpl. July 24th. Shell wound Aug. 7th while with 
4th Div., Aisne-Marne; hosp. to Sept. 26th. Chateau- 
Thierry and Meuse-Arg. Joined Bn. Oct. 11th, being re- 
duced on that account to pvt. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 
28th. Pvt., 1st class, Dec. 1st. 

So. Manchester, Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



273 




Corporal William E. Chambers ("Bill") 

Born Oct. 12, 1898. Empl., Cheney Bros., S. M. 
Enl. Niantic, Aug. 21, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, April 1, 
1918; cpl. Nov. 16, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, 
Oct. 2Sth. Co. football team. 

So. Maiiclieslcr, Conn. 



ibw-^ J ^^^Nw^K;! 




Private Herbert C. Chew ("Herb") 

Born Tan. 22, 1893. Ranchman. Dft. Sept. 19, 1917. 
Tr. 316th Inf., 90th Div., Cp. Travis, Tex. Arr. France 
April 16, 1918; joined Bn. May 12th. All sectors ex. 
Chemin des Dames. Shell wound Oct. 23rd, Verdun; 
hosp., and invalided U. S. Dec. 9, 1918; dis. Jan. 20, 
1919. 

Caslcll, Texas. 



,*-, 



^^=lS. "^1 



Private Marion L. Chew ("Marion") 

Born Jan. 22, 1895. Ranchman. Dft. Sept. 19, 1917. 
Tr. 316th Inf., 90th Div., Cp. Travis, Tex. Arr. France 
April 16, 1918; joined Bn. May 12th. All sectors ex. 
Chemin des Dames. Shell wound, Oct. 27th, Verdun; 
hosp., Revigny, to Nov. 12th. Nov. 12, 1918-March 15, 
1919, 319th Inf., 80th Div. Rejoined Bn. March 15th. 

Castell, Tex. 




Private Dave A. Childers ("Tennessee") 

Born Feb. 25, 1895. Mechanic. Dft. Aug. 19, 1917. 
Tr. 318th M. G. Bn., 81st Div., Cp. Jackson, S. C. 
Arr. France April 16, 1918; joined Bn. May 12th. 
Toul and Chateau-Thierry. Shell wound July 25th 
north Chateau-Thierry; hosp., Bazoilles and Bordeaux. 
P. W. E. Co., Nov. 1-Dec. 6, 1918; 2d Anny Hqrs., 
Toul, Jan. 20-March 20, 1919. Rejoined Bn. Alarch 23. 

Ripley, Miss. 



274 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battaliox 




Pkuatk, 1st Class, Gordon N. Christopher 
("Chris") 

Born Oct. 25, 1S96. Married. Time-study elk. Enl. 
Aug. 22, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 1, 1918. 
Trans. Div. Hqrs. message center, Oct. 4th. Univ. of 
Rennes, March l-|uly 1, 1919. Sk. in hosp., Coetqui- 
dan, March 13-30,' 1919. Ret. U. S. July 14th; dis. July 
18, 1919. 

R. F. D. 4, Rockvillc, Conn. 





Private Constantino Cimminello ("Zip") 

Born, Italy, March 18, 1888. Barber. Dft. Sept. 19, 
1917, Cp. Devens. Joined Bn., Niantic, Sept. 21st. All 
sectors. Sk. in hosp., Chaumont, Nov. 7-Dec. 24, 1918. 
Two yrs. in Italian army. 

Soul h port, Conn. 



Corporal Ernest C. Clark ("Ernie") 

Born Sept. 8, 1892. Auto mechanic. Enl. Aug. 23, 
1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, July 13th; wag. Nov. 1st; 
cpl. Dec. 6, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Oct. 27th, \^er- 
dun. 

31o Pearl Si., Haiijord, Conn. 



^ 



^^^ 



^ 



Wagoner Joseph F. Clark ("Joe") 

Born Nov. 22, 1890, Auto .salesman. Enl. Tp. L May 
1, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 1, 1917; wag. May 1, 1918. 
All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. 
Dec. 31, 1917, later to Co. D, 101st Supply Tr. Re- 
joined Bn. May 7, 1918. 

2481 Cirston Ave., New York, N. Y. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



275 




Private, 1st Class, James A. Coleman ("Jimmie") 

Born Nov. 22, 1897. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. L May 1, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Sept. 27, 1917. All 
sectors. Gassed, north Chateau-Thierry, July 2oth, and 
at Verdun Oct. 28th; hosp., Bordeaux, Oct. 27-Dec. 5, 
1918. Rejoined Bn. Dec. 14th. 

33 May Si., Ilarlfoni Coidi. 



Private Henry C. Combe ("Barb") 

Born Dec. 8, 1892. Barber. Dft. vSept. 20, 1917. Tr. 
.301st M. G. Bn., 76th Div., Cp. Devens. Arr. France 
Aug. 4, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 8th. 

37 Center Si., Bristol, Conn. 




Sergeant Joseph F. Comereord ("Snapper") 

Born Sept. 24, 1894. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. B March 28, 1917. Trans. Tp. L April 14. Cpl. 
July 1, 1917; sgt. April 1, 1918. French M. G. Sch., 
Chatenois, Nov. 18-Dec. 4, 1917; gas Sch., Gondre- 
court, Aug. 2-16, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Oct. 28th, 
Verdun; hosp., Limoges, Nov. 6-Dec. 15th. One yr. 
Cav., Vt., N. G., Norwich Univ., 1913; one month 
Mass. Naval Res., 1914. 

'570 Broadview Terrace, Hartford, Conn. 




Corporal Harold M. Connolly ("Con") 

Born Feb. 5, 1897. Surveyor, Conn. State Highway 
Dept.,Htfd. Enl. Tp. L May 29. 1917. Pvt., 1st class, 
April 1st; cpl. Oct. 1, 1918. All sectors. Shell wound 
July 25th, north Chateau-Thierry; hosp., Vittel to Aug. 
24th. Gassed Oct. 28th, Verdun; hosp., Poitiers to Dec. 
1 1th. Rejoined Bn. Dec. 27th. 

.29 Bid-well Ave., East Hartford, Co)in. 



276 



History of Tin: 101 st Machine Gun Battalion 




Private, 1st Class, Matthew H. Connors ("Matt") 

Born Dec. 30, 1897. Student, Mass. Inst. Tech. Enl. 
Tp. L April 24, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Sept. 27, 1917. 
Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Shell 
wound, July 25th, north Chateau-Thierry; hosp., Save- 
nay, Monpont, Vichy. Invalided U. S. Oct. 22, 191S; 
U. S. Hosp., Rahway. Dis. Dec. 21 , 191S. Co. football 
and baseball teams. 

21 Sevniour St., Ihiiij'ord, Coiiii. 



jH^ 




Mechanic George A. Cormier ("Corm") 

Born Aug. 2, 1894. Casket maker. Enl. June 29, 1917 
Co. D, 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. Pvt., 1st class, 
Nov. 1, 1918; mech. Dec. 1, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, 
Verdun, Oct. 27th; hosp., Verdun, Nov. 4-10, 1918. 

Bristol, Vt. 




Private, 1st Class, Edmund F. Costello ("Eddie") 

Born July 13, 1894. Clk., Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. L June 5, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Oct. 1, 1918. All 
sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 28th; hosp., Nubecourt 
to Nov. 17th. 

Care Orient Ins. Co., 20 Tri)iit\' St., Hartford, Conn. 




Cook John J. Costello ("Johnnie") 

Born Oct. 12, 1898. Blacksmith. Enl. March 6, 1917 
Tp. B. Trans. Tp. L May 2, 1917. 
1917; wag. April 1, 1918; cook Dec. 

147'S Broad St., Hartford, Conn. 



Horseshoer May 3, 
1, 1918. All sectors. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



277 




Private Arthur E. Cota ("Art") 

Born April 11, 1897. Farmer. Enl. July 1, 1917, Co. 
D, 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. Det. ser. Div. supply 
depot Feb. 2-March 27, 191S. All sectors ex. Chemin 
des Dames. Gassed, Oct. 2<Sth, Verdun. 

96 Seymour St., Middlebiiry, Vt. 



Private George A. Cota ("Mess") 

Born June 22, 1894. Farmer. Enl. June 30, 1917, 
Co. D, IstVt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. All sectors. 
Gassed, Oct. 29th, Verdun; sent to hosp. Ret. U. S., 
Feb; dis. March 1, 1919. 

96 Seymour St., Middlchiiry, Vt. 




Private John W. Cota ("Red") 

Born July 28, 1898. Teamster. Enl. June 30, 1917, 
Co. D, 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. All sectors. Gassed, 
Oct. 28th, Verdun. 

96 Seymour St., Middlebiiry, Vt. 




Corporal Floyd A. Couch ("Cooch") 

Born Feb. 28, 1898. Clk. Enl. Tp. L April 24, 1917. 
P\i;., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; wag. April 1, 1918; cpL 
Dec. 6, 1918. All sectors. Co. football team. Mex. 
Border, 1st Vt. Inf., June 1916-Feb. 1917. 

15 Bushnell St., Hartford, Conn. 



278 



History of Thk Ullsi Machink Chn Battalion 




Private, 1st Class, William J. Couch ("Bill") 

Born lulv IS. 1894. Clk.. G. M. Couch & Son. Htfd. 
Enl. Tp. L April 24, 1917. P\-t., 1st class. Dec. 1. 1918. 
All sectors. Gassed, Oct. 28th, Verdun. 

15 BusIdicH St., Hartford, Conn. 




PRUAri: Hau i.Y M. Coultkr ("Mike") 

Born lulv 19, 1894. Shoemaker. Enl. April 2. 1917, 
Ist Ark.' Inf. Tr. 82d. 39th, and 41st Divs., Cps. Pike 
and Beaiu-egard. Arr. France Aug. 23. 1918; joined Bn. 
Dec. 8th. 

30 H lives St., Binglianiptoii, X. Y. 




Private, 1st Class, Bernard W. Crafts ("Bernie") 

Born May 2o, 1888. Clerk. Dtt. May 24, 1918. Tr. 
■MYM-d M. G. Bn., 7Gth Div., Cp. Devens. Arr. France 
Aug. 4th; joined Bn. Dec. 8th. Sk. in hosp. Dec. 1918. 
Rejoined Bn. Jan. 2, 1919 

Bradford, 17. 




Wagoner Earl O. Cressev ("Tiny") 

iVirn Dec. 27, 1898. Farmer. Enl. June 22. 1917. Co. 
C, 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. Pvt.. 1st class. Sept. 
10, 1917; wag. Nov. 1, 1918. All sectors. 

Kllcnbiiri^ Depot, xY. Y. 



History ov The 101 st Maciiink Gun Battalion 



279 




Private Tellemer D. Crevier ("Frog") 

Born Dec. 12, 1895. Teamster. Enl. May 31, 1917, 
104th Inf., Sprini,^field. Mass. Tr. Westfield. Arr. 
France Oct. 25, 1917. Trans, to Bn. June 1, 1918. All 
sectors. 

S Elv Court. Holvokc. Mass. 




Private John F. Cross ("Moccasin") 

Born April 29, 1896. :\Iarried. Lumber-iack. Dft. 
Juty 17, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Oct. 5; 
Sk. in hosp. Selles-sur-Cher Oct. 15-Nov. 6, 1918. 
Joined Bn. Dec. 8th. Left Bn. Cp. Devens and dis. 
Apr. 26, 1919. Cp. Grant. 

Oconto Falls. Wis. 




Private, 1st Class, Raymond L. Dalton ("Hones") 

Bom Nov. 22, 1S95. Clk., Scottish Union Ins. Co., 
Htfd. Enl. Aug. 21, 1917, Niantic. P\'t., 1st class, Dec. 
1, 1918. All sectors. Sk. in hosp., Bourmont Dec. 7, 
1918. Later trans. 103rd Fd. Art. Ret. U. S. April; dis. 
April 29, 1919. 

56 Retreat Ave., Hartford, Conn. 




Private Edward L. Dempsey ("Jack") 

Bom June 25, 1895. ^lachinist. Dft. May 11, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 6th; joined Bn. 
Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Gassed, Oct. 
27th, Verdun. 

loS Rugbies St., Dunkirk. X. Y. 



280 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Private Carmelo DiFranco ("Two Franx's") 

Born March 27, 1892. Fireman. Dft. Sept. 19, 1917. 
Joined Bn. Sept. 21st, Niantic. All sectors. Gassed, 
Verdun, Oct. 2Sth; hosp., Bordeaux, to Nov. loth. Re- 
joined Dec. 11th. 

12 Tenth St., New London, Conn. 



Private Antonio Distifano ("Dusty") 

Born Nov. 13, 1891. Laborer. Dft. May 10, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 6th; joined Bn. 
Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 

St. JoknsviUe, N. Y. 




Private Norman M. Donovan ("Don") 

Born Sept. 15, 1893. Structural iron worker. Dft. 
May 13, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 6th; 
joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 

209 W. Elm St., Olean, N. Y. 



Private, 1st Class, William D. F. Dunn ("Duxnie") 

Born Oct. 2, 1892. Photo engraver. Enl. Tp. L, Nian- 
tic, Aug. 19, 1917. All sectors ex. Meuse-Arg. Trans. 
Army P. O. Service Sept. 23, 1918. Later to 29th Engrs. 
Ret. U. S. June 5; dis. July 16, 1919. 

River Edge, N. J. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



281 





Corporal George A. Elliott ("Popper") 

Born Nov. 14, 1893. Scale sealer. Enl. March 13, 
1U16, Co. A, 1st Vt. Inf., Rutland. Cpl. Aug. 16, 191G. 
All sectors. 1st Vt. Inf. 1912-1916; Me.x. Border, 1916. 

195 Adams St., Rutland, Vt. 



Wagoner Cl.a.yton Evans ("Chick") 

Born Oct. 1, 1895. Civil engineer. Enl., Xiantic, 
Aug. 22, 1917. Wag. April 1, 1918. All sectors. 
Kennebunk, Me. 




Wagoner Theodore J. Fabryk ("Teddy") 

Born July 4, 1891, Poland. Chauffeur. Dft. at Cp. 
Devens Sept. 19, 1917. Joined Bn., Niantic, Sept. 21st. 
Wag. April 1, 1918. Shell wound north Chateau-Thierry 
July 22d. All sectors. Co. football team. 

Fairfield, Conn. 



Private John C. Fann ("Coy") 

Born Ian. 22, 1896. Textile worker. Dft. Sept. IS, 
1917. Tr. 82d Div., Cp. Gordon; 30th Div. Cp. Sevier, 
S. C. Arr. France Sept. 3, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 9th. 
Ret. U. S. and dis. July 14, 1919. 

Harrison, Tcnn. 



282 



History of Tin: lOlsx Maciiini: CUx Battalion- 




Private Deforest H. Farrar ("Jumbo") 

Born Oct. 19, 1893. Married. Brakeman. Dft. May 
11, 191S. Tr. Cp. Hancock. i\rr. France Aug. 6th; 
joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 

R. F. D. 1, Kirkvillc. X. V. 




Private Buel J. Ferguson ("Fergie") 

Born April 14, 1S92. Foreman, Xew Departure Mfg. 
Co., Bristol. Enl. Sept. 29, 1917, Xiantic. All sectors. 
Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 29th; hosp., Bordeaux, to Dec. 
11th. 

.,V Spriiiii St., Brislol, Conn. 




^iK_^/ 



Private, 1st Class. William A. Forant ("Froggy") 

Horn lulv 6. 1897. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. 
L May 1, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917. Chemin 
des Dames and Toul. Sk. in hosp. July 5-Oct. 4, 1918. 
P. W. E. and M. P. duty, Mesves, Oct. 14-Nov. 3, 1918. 
Rejoined Bn. Dec. 12th. Co. football team. 

1110 Cohimhia Ave, Rogers Park, III. 




Private, 1st Class, Elmer S. Fox ("Hooks") 

Born Jan. 11. 1891. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl., 
Niantic, Aug. 23, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Oct. 17, 1917. 
Ouarantined, Southampton, England. Nov. 29-Dec. 28, 
f917. Sk. in hosp. Dec. 28, 1917,-Jan. 12, 1918. All 
sectors. 

757 Main St., Hartford, Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



283 



Private John H. Gardner ("Rabbit") 

Born May 3, 1900. Weaver, Cheney Bros.. So. Man- 
chester. Enl., Niantic, Aug. 24, 1917. Left Bn. Niantic. 
Arr. France Nov. 25, 1917. Reioined Dec. 23rd. Sent 
to U. S. March 20th; dis. March 29, 1918, account of 
being vmder age. 

ITS Eld ridge St., So. Mainiicstcr. Conn. 




^i^Ji 



Wagoner Manwell S. Gardner ("Monie") 

Bom April 16, 1892. Clk., Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. L April 24, 1917. P\-t., 1st class. Aug. 2/, 1917; 
wag. April 1, 1918. Sk. in hosp., Neuf chateau, Nov. 5- 
23, 1917. All sectors. 

4Sd ir. Main St., Mcridcn, Conn. 




Private Matthew H. Gaynor ("}vIicky") 

Bom March 6, 1896. Drop forger. Dft. Sept. 20, 
1917. Tr. Cp. Devens, 301st M. G. Bn.. 76th Div. 
Arr. France Aug. 4, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. Uth. 

Buckland St., Plantsville, Conn. 



K-r-4 






Private Thomas A. Geelan ("Shorty") 

Bom Tune 19, 1892. Farmer. Dft. May 11. 1918. 
Tr. Cp. "Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 6th; joined Bn. 
Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 

Church St.. Almandcr Bay, X. Y. 



284 



History of The 101st AIachine Gun Battalion 



S^ 



Private Charles J. Gervaise ("Gervie") 

Born June 10, 1892. Fanner. Dft. and trained at 
Dunkirk, N. Y., 327th M. G. Bn. Arr. France Aug. 
6, 1918; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, 
Meuse-Arg. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 23rd; hosp. to Nov. 
2oth. 

2-il Eagle St., Frcdoiiiii, X. Y. 




Private Millard M. Giles ("Mill") 

Born July 18, 1887. Married. Clk., mfg. Dft. Sept. 
20, 1917. Tr. 301st M. G. Bn., 76th Div., Cp. Devens. 
Arr. France Aug. 4, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 9th. 

■J J Chester St., Springfield, Mass. 




Sergeant George W. Glenxey ("Pop") 

Born July 28, 1888. Lumber salesman. Enl. Tp. L 
May 8, 1917. P\i;., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. Sept. 
27, 1917; sgt. Oct. 17, 1918. Det. ser., Bordeaux, Dec. 
(5, 1917-Ian. 26, 1918, forwarding Div. mail. All sectors. 
Sk. in hosp., Mars, Aug. 11-Sept. 9, 1918; Montpont, 
Oct. 28-Dec. 11, 1918. 

68 Bigelow St., So. Manehester, Conn. 






Private Albert W. Goranson ("H.a.ppy") 

Born June 28, 1895. P. O. clk. Dft. Sept. 20, 1917. 
Tr. Cp. Devens, 76th Div. Arr. France Aug. 4, 1918; 
joined Bn. Dec. 8th. 

IDS Washington St., Forestville, Com. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



285 




Cook Percival L. Gould ("Percy") 

Born July 7, 1898. Farmer. Enl. April 4, 1917, Co. C, 
1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. Pvt., 1st class, July 1, 
1917; cook Sept. 22, 1917. All sectors. 

Walden, Vt. 




Sergeant George R. Gowen ("Rick") 

Born March 7, 1897. Clk., Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. L April 24, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; 
cpl. April 1, 1918; sgt. Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. 
Gassed, Oct. 29th, Verdun; hosp. to Dec. 17th. 

631 Albany Ave., Hartford, Conn. 



-*•- 




Mess Sergeant Byron P. Graff ("Barney") 

Born Feb. 7, 1894. Underwriter, Aetna Life Ins. Co. 
Enl: Tp. L April 24, 1917. Cook May 3, 1917; mess sgt. 
Dec. 1, 1918. All sectors. 

62 Grand St., Hartford, Conn. 



Sergeant Chandler T. Green ("Chan") 

Born Sept. 17, 1894. Clk., Conn. Gen. Life Ins. Co. 
Enl. Tp. B March 6, 1917. Trans. Tp. L April 14th; 
L. cpl. July 1, 1917; cpl. Aug. 1, 1917; sgt. Oct. 17, 1918. 
All sectors. Univ. of Rennes March-Julv, 1919. Ret. 
U. S. July; dis. July 18, 1919. 

183 No. Main^St., West Hartford, Conn. 



286 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Private, 1st Class, David S. Green ("Sherm") 

Born Feb. 7, 1897. Student, Dartmouth. Enl. Tp. L 
May 1, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917. Shell wound 
north Chateau-Thierry, July 25th; hosp., Vittel, July 
26-Sept. 4, 191S. Attached 102d Amb. Co., St. Mihiel, 
Sept. 11th. Rejoined Bn. Sept. 25th. Gassed, Oct. 29th, 
Verdun. All sectors. Univ. of Rennes, March- July, 
1919. Ret. U. S. July; dis. July 18, 1919. 

183 No. Main St., West Hartford, Conn. 



Corporal Stanley T. Green ("Stan") 

Born Feb. 4, 1895. Clk., Billings & Spencer Mf?. Co., 
Htfd. Enl. Tp. L April 25, 1917. Quarantined South- 
ampton, England. Nov. 29-Dec. 28, 1917. Trans. Sp. 
Tr. Bn. Dec. 31, 1917. Cpl. April 20, 1918. Ret. U. S. 
March 25th; dis. March 29, 1919. 

90 South'Whitney St., Hartford, Co'in. 



Wagoner Ray H. Gustetter ("Gus") 

Born June 16, 1894. Clk., Phoenix Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. 
L May 1, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; wag. 
April 1, 1918. Gassed, Oct. 29th, Verdun. All sectors. 

S Beverly Road, West Hartford, Conn. 



V 



m — 




Private, 1st Class, Hugh W. Halvosa ("Camel") 

Born Nov. 22, 1896. Clk., Nat'l Fire Ins. Co., Htfd. 
Enl. Tp. L April 24, 1917. P\^., 1st class, Oct. 1, 1918. 
All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 29th; hosp., Chau- 
mont, Langres. Rejoined Bn. Dec. 5th. 

GG^Laurcl St., Hartford, Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



287 




Private James L. Harrington ("Jim") 

Born Dec. 24, 1893. Teamster. Dft. Oct. 5, 1917. 
Tr. 301st M. G. Bn., 76th Div., Cp. Devens. Arr. 
France July 23, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 8th. 

558 6th St., So. Boston, Mass. 




Sergeant Richard C. Hastings ("Deke") 

Born Jan. 23, 1893. Married Sept. 9, 1918. Stock 
broker, Thompson, Fenn & Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. B, Dec. 
8, 1914. Trans. Tp. L April 14, 1917. L. cpl. May 23, 
1917; cpl. July 1, 1917; sgt. Aug. 27, 1917. Chemin des 
Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Left for U. S. as in- 
structor July 22, 1918; 10th Div., Cp. Funston. Re- 
fused commission as 2d Lt., Jan. 20th, in order to take 
discharge Jan. 23, 1919. 

1£6' Farmington Ave., Harlford, Conn. 

Sergeant Hudson R. Hawley ("Boz") 

Born Aug. 21, 1892. Editorial writer. Enl. Aug. 21, 
1917, Niantic. Trans. Field Press Hqrs., Neufchateau, 

Jan. 12, 1918. Trans, staff "Stars & Stripes", Paris, Feb. 12th; attached 
staff Gen. Harbord, to cover S. O. S. news. Editorial council "S. & S." 
Dis. June 18, 1919, Gievres. Remained France as Asso. Press corresp. 
covering inter-allied games, Pershing Stadium, and touring Czecho- 
slovakia. With Pershing's party, tour of Am. fronts, .^ug., 1919. 
Later, European corresp. "Home Sector" which became "Am. Legion 
Weekly." Member Paris Post No. 1, Am. Legion. Army citation: 
'Private Hudson Hawley, staff "Stars & Stripes", for exceptionally 
meritorious and conspicuous services at Paris, France, A. E. F. In 
testimony thereof, and as an expression of appreciation of these ser- 
ices, I award him this citation. 

John J. Pershing, Comma>ul(r-.in-Chirf." 
AwardcdlApril 10, 1919. 

Bristol, Conn. 



kks^ 




Private Victor U. Heilig ("Vic") 

Born Oct. 11, 1894. Farmer. Dft. July 20, 1918. Tr. 
Cp. McArthur, Texas, 162d Inf., 41st Div. Arr. France 
Oct. 6, 1918. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. in 103rd 
M. G. Bn. Joined 101st M. G. Bn. Dec. 21st. 

New Braunfels, Texas. 



288 



History of Tiik 101 st Machine Gun Battalion 




Private Edmund J. Hixslky ("Ed") 

Born Feb. 3, 1888. Mercantile agency reporter. Enl. 
Dec. 4, 1917, Q. M. Corps, Ft. Slocum' N. Y. Tr. Cp. 
Johnston, Fla. Arr. France Aug. 3, 1918; joined Bn. 
Dec. 8th. 

62 College St., Worcester, Mass. 



Corporal David I. Hitchcock ("Dave") 

Born 1893. Chemist. Enl. Aug. 25, 1917, Niantic. 
L. cpl. May 26, 1918. Chemin des Dames and Toul. 
Trans. Gas Ser. Lab., Paris, June 20, 1918; to Chem. 
Warfare Ser., Chaumont, July 10th. Cpl. Nov., 1918. 
Ret. U. S. Dec. 23, 1918; dis. Jan. 13, 1919. 

JJ Slinison Place, Delroil, Mich. 





Corporal George H. Hoey, Jr. ("George") 

Born July 9, 1884. Efficiency engr., Colt's Fire Arms 
Co. Enl. Aug. 21, 1917. Niantic. Wag. April 1, 1918; 
cpl. Nov. 1, 1918. All sectors. Det. ser.. Mobile Veteri- 
nary Corps, Aug. 24, 1918. Rejoined Bn. Sept. 13th. 
Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 27th. 

172 Farm i)i;:,t 0)1 Ave, Ilarlfonl. C'oini. 



Private Jacob P. Horowitz ("Jake") 

Born Feb. 21, 1893. Merchant. Dft. May 5, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga. Arr. France Aug. 6, 1918. St. 
Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. in 103rd M. G. Bn. Wound- 
ed Nov. 11th, Verdun; hosp. to Dec. 12th. Trans. 101st 
M. G. Bn. Dec. 21st. 

340 E. 74th Si., New York, N. V. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



289 




Private John C, Hiissey ("Jack") 
Born Dec. 10, 1895. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Aug. 23, 1917, Niantic. Shell wound July 25th, north 
Chateau-Thierry; hosp., Bazoilles and Vichy, until in- 
valided U. S. Sept. 28, 1918; hosp.. Cape May, N. J., 
and Staten I. Dis. Aug. 30, 1919. 
26 Pliny St., Hartford, Conn. 




Cook Ernest L. Hutchinson ("Hutch") 
Born Dec. 9, 1895. Teamster. Enl. Co. C, 1st Vt. 

Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen, July 3, 1917. Cook Dec. 3, 

All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. 
2'rowe Hill, Barre, Vt. 



1918. 



Wagoner Henry H. Hyde ("Hobey") 
Born May 6, 1897. Student. Enl. Tp. L April 23, 
1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 8, 1917; wag. April 1, 1918. 
Quarantined Southampton, Eng. Oct. 29-Dec. 28, 
r917 All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 29; hosp., 
Nevers and Neufchateau Oct. 20-Dec. 12, 1918. Det. 
ser., Dijon, Jan., 1919. R. O. T. C, Plattsburg, smu- 
mer, 1915. 

638 Prospect Ave. 



Hartford, Conn. 



Private Isidor Hyman ("Hy") 

Born March 20, 1890. Hat cutter. Dft. May 25, 
li)18. Tr. Cp. Hancock, 323rd M. G. Bn., 83rd Div. 
Arr France Aug. 6th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg., 
103rd M. G. Bn. Trans. 101st M. G. Bn. Dec. 21st. 

339 South 2d St., Brooklyn, N. Y. 



290 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



^ - - 



1st Sergeant Edward J. Joiixston ("Pipper") 

Born June 9, 1894. Clk., Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. 
L June 5, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. April 
1, 1918; sgt. Aug. 1, 1918; 1st sgt. Oct. 17, 1918. All 
sectors. Sk. in hosp., Chauniont, May 12-30, 1918; 
Angers Oct. 22-Nov. 2, 1918. Co. football and baseball 
teams. 

DO Bond Si., Hartford, Conn. 




Private, 1st Class, Ralph A. Jones ("Broadway") 

Born Sept. 23, 1894. Salesman. Enl. Tp. L May 4, 
1917. P\i;., 1st class, May 1, 1919. Quarantined, South- 
ampton, England, Nov. 29-Dec. 28, 1917. Chemin des 
Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Gassed, Mandres, 
April 20, 1918. Shell wound July 25th, north Chateau- 
Thierry; hosp., Chauinont, Vittel, Montpont, July 26- 
Oct., 1918. P. E. S. Hqrs., Paris, Oct. 1, 1918-May 1, 
1919. Ret. U. S. and dis. June 12, 1919. 

376 Main St., West Springfield, Mass. 



Private, 1st Class, Marshall H. Kashman ("Kash") 

Born April 23, 1894. Buyer, Wise, Smith & Co., Htfd. 
Enl. Tp. L June 19, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Nov. 11, 1918. 
All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 29th. 

//) Sumner St., Hartford, Conn. 




Corporal John W. Kearney ("Jack") 

Born Oct. 19, 1897. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. L April 25, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; 
cpl. Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 
23rd. 

1444 Gaylord St., Denver, Colorado. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



291 




Private, 1st Class, Freas G. Keen ("Tommie") 

Born June 9, 1894. Salesman, National Biscuit Co., 
New Britain. Enl. Tp. L May 8, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, 
Sept. 27, 1917. Quarantined Southampton, England, 
Nov. 29-Dec. 28,1917. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, 
Oct. 23rd. 

Glen Lvon, Pa. 




Corporal John J. Keevers ("Jack") 

Born Sept. 3, 1897. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. L April 24, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; 
cpl. Oct. 1, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 29th 
Sk. in hosp. Jan. 29-March 22, 1919, Bourmont. Trans. 
102d Fd. Art., Mayet. Ret. U. S. April 17; dis. April 29, 
1919. 

53 Montowese St., Hartford, Conn. 




Private Albert Kilby ("Al") 
Born March 21, 1891. Fireman. Dft. Sept. 19, 1917 



Tr. Cp. Devens, 303rd M. G. Bn., 76th Div. 
France Aug. 4, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 11th. 
193 Hartford Ave., New Britain, Conn. 



Arr. 



-i^V^-^ 




Wagoner Ernest S. Kitson ("Kit") 

Born June 5, 1895. Lumber salesman. Enl. Tp. L 
April 23, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug; 27, 1917; wag. 
April 1, 1918. All sectors. Det. ser., 33rd Div., Ligny, 
Aug. 26-Sept. 1, 1918. Sk., 103rd F. H., Nov. 29- 
Dec. 11, 1918. 
Oyster Bay, Long Island, N. Y. 



292 



History of The IUIst Machine Gun Battalion 







Private Philip F. Klein ("Phil") 

Born July 19, 1S95. Postal elk. Dft. May 25, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock, S3rd Div. Arr. France Aug. 6, 1918. 
St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg., l()3rd M. G. Bn. Trans. 
101st M. G. Bn., Dec. 21st. 

1434 Bryant Ave., Bronx, New York\ N. Y. 



Wagoner Harold F. Kropp ("Bertha") 

Born July 30. 1899. Clk., City Bank & Trust Co., 
Htfd. Enl. Aug. 21, 1917, Niantic. Wag. April 1, 1918. 
Gassed, Mandres, Apr. 20. Det. ser., Hqrs. Tp., 26th 
Div., as motor-cycle despatch rider July 26th, and offi- 
cially trans. Aug. 16, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, 
Nov. 9th. Ret. U. S.April 4th; dis. April 29, 1919. 

352 Vine St., Hartford, Conn. 



4^:= 









^/^ 



Private Harry G. Laffin ("Smiler") 

Born July 26, 1892. Cook. Dft. Sept. 19, 1917. Tr. 
Cp. Pike. Ark., 352d M. G. Bn. Arr. France July 2, 
1918; joined Bn. July 27th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse- 
Arg. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 29th: hosp. to Dec. 29th. 
Det. ser., 4th R. P. 0. Area, Feb. 4-March 12, 1919. 

Williams, Minn. 




Private Oney E. Lanciault ("Frog") 

Born May 31, 1896. Farmer. Enl. June 0, 1917, Co. 
C, 1st Vt. Inf., Barre, Vt. All sectors. Assigned Bn. 
Hqrs. Co. and later trans, to C Co. Gassed, Mandres, 
April 2()th; hosp., Toul, to May 31st. Sk. in hosp., Dec. 
r>-19, 1<)1S. 

Ra)idolpli Center, Vt. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



293 




Private, 1st Class, Edmund L. LaRock ("Eddie") 

Born Aug. 14, 1S92. Machinist, New Departure 
Mfg. Co., Bristol. Enl. Oct. 2, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st 
class, April 1, 1918. All sectors. Shell wound, Verdun, 
Oct. 23rd. 

Richmond, Vt. 




Sergeant Arnold R. Lask ("Husky") 

Born Jan. 17, 1894. Professional baseball. Enl. Aug, 
21, 1917, Niantic. Mech. April 1, 1918; sgt. Oct. 1, 1918. 
All sectors. Co. football, baseball, and Bn. baseball 
teams. 

Coal St., Glen Lyon, Pa. 




Cook Louis F. LeBlond ("Louie") 

Born April 28, 1895. Carpenter. Enl. Tp. L May 8, 
1917. Cook May 8, 1917. Shell wound July 25th north 
of Chateau-Thierry; hosp., Bazoilles and Mesves. Trans, 
to reclass. camp, Blois, Sept. 30th. In charge officers' 
mess, 13th Marines, Nov. 1, 1918-June 30, 1919 Nantes. 
Ret. U. S. July 17th. Hosp., Baltimore, for operation 
until dis. Feb. 13, 1920. 

168 Jackson St., WiUimantic, Conn. 




Private Archie C. Lenzi ("Kid") 

Born Nov. 4, 1896. Machinist. Enl. Aug. 28, 1917, 
Niantic. All sectors. Gassed, April 20th, Mandres; 
hosp. to May 12th. 

181 John St., New Haven, Conn. 



294 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Private, 1st Class, Robert J. Lindsay ("Bob") 

Born Nov. 20, 1894. Clk., Htfd. Mach. Screw Co. 
Enl. Tp. L May 22, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917. 
Chemin des Dames and Toul. Gassed, Flirey, June 25, 
1918, causing phlebitis of the legs, pneumonia, and 
pleurisy; hosp., Toul, Bazoilles, Bordeaux, July 3rd- 
Oct. 5th. Trans. A. P. O. Exp. Ser., Oct. 7th Tours, 
Bourges, La Courtine. Ret. U. S. March 11 th; dis. 
March 25, 1919. 

96 Hudson St., Hartford, Conn. 




Private Willie C. Littlefield ("Willie") 

Born May 7, 1888. Farmer. Dft. Sept^. 28, 191J. Tr. 
Cps. Gordon and Wheeler, _Ga. 
1918; joined Bn. July 27th. 



Arr. France July 6, 
St. Mihiel, Troyon, "Meuse- 
Arg. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 27th. 



Bainbridge, Ga. 



Private Andrew J. Long ("Andy") 

Born April 29, 1893. Farmer. Dft. May 28, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Shelby, Miss., 138th M. G. Bn., 38th Div. Arr. 
France Oct. Uth; joined Bn. Dec. 21st. 

R. F. D. 3, Ccntralia, HI. 




Private William J. Lower ("Bill") 

Born Sept. 20, 1893. Farmer. Enl. Sept. 20, 1917. 
Tr. 122d Inf., 31st Div., Cp. Wheeler, Ga. Arr. France 
July (), 1918; joined Bn. July 28th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, 
Aleusc-Arg. 

K. F. D. 4, Aberdeen, Miss. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



295 




Private George T. Lowery ("Tom") 

Born Jan. 2, 1896. Lumber grader. Enl. July IS, 
1917, 2d Miss. Inf., N. G., Gulfport. Tr. Cp. Beaure- 
gard, La., 142d M. G. Bn., 39th Div. Arr. France Sept. 
3, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 9th. 

Lyman, Miss. 



0^ 




Private, 1st Class, Louis R. Lyman ("Louie") 

Born March 4, 1897. Clk., Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. L May 29, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917. All 
sectors. Gassed, July 25th, north Chateau-Thierry. 

330 W ether sfield Ave., Hartford, Conn. 




Private Hugh J. MacDonald ("Mac") 

Born Dec. 27, 1891. Machinist. Dft. Sept. 20, 1917. 
Tr. Cp. Devens, 303rd M. G. Bn.,76th Div. Arr. France 
July 23, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 8th. 

4o8 High St., Torriiigtoii, Conn. 




Private William Manchester ("Bill") 

Farmer. Dft. Cp. Devens, 1917. Arr. France Aug., 
1918; joined Bn. Dec. 8. 
Schoharie, N. Y. 



296 



History of The 101st A4achine Gun Battalion 




Sergeant Major Charles E. McCarthy ("Mac") 

Born Oct. 21, 1895. Clk., Phoenix Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. L June 12, 1917. Pvt. Icl. Aug. 27. 1917. Trans. 
June, 191.S, 26th Div. Hqrs. Sgt. July 4th; sgt. maj. 
Sept. 24th. All Div. sectors. Ret. U. S. March 30; dis. 
May 3, 1919. 

19 Cottage St., Rockvillc, Conn. 



/-•X 




Corporal Lester K. McElwain ("Mac") 

Born May 10, 1895. Student. Enl. Tp. L May 1, 
1917. Pvt., 1st class, Sept. 23, 1917; cpl. Oct. 17, 1918. 
All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 23rd; Am. R. C. 
Hosp., Bellevue to Dec. 1st. 3rd Corps Gas Sch., 
Clamecy, Jan. 18-25, 1919. 

209 Linden St., Holyoke, Mass. 




Corporal George J. McGinn ("Dodo") 

Born Sept. 14, 1891. Photo engraver, Manternack 
Co. Enl. Aug. 21, 1917, Niantic. Wag. April 1, 1918; 
cpl. Dec. 6, 1918. All sectors. Sk. in hosp., Neufcha- 
teau, Jan. 1-15, 1918. Sp. Tr. Bn. Jan. 15-Feb. 7, 1918. 
Sk. in hosp., Bazoilles, June 21-July 12, 1918. 

136 Maplewood Ave., West Hartford, Conn. 




Corporal William B. McIntosh ("Mac") 

Born Sept. 7, 1894. Aetna Life Ins Co. Enl. Tp. B 
June 21, 1916. Trans. Tp. L April 14, 1917. Pvt., 1st 
class, Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. Sept. 27, 1917. Chemin des 
Dames. Det. ser., Bn. baggage, St.Blin, Andelot, Rimau- 
court, April 1-Nov. 28, 1918. Mex. Border, 1916. Co. 
football team. 

Care Aetna Life Ins. Co., New York City. 



History or The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



29- 



v-- 



Private, 1st Class, Richard Menegat ("Minnie") 

Born Oct. 18, 1888. Stone cutter. Enl. June 21, 1917, 
Co. C, 1st Vt. Inf., Barre, Vt. All sectors. Gassed, 
Verdun, Oct. 29th. Italian army, 1912. 

Stafford Springs, Conn. 



%t^^[^ *^Srf?<B 





Private, 1st Class, Frederick A. Miles ("Pop") 

Born Aug. 11, 1894. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. L June 26, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917. 
Sk. in hosp., Neufchateau, Nov. 22-Dec. 7, 1917. Sp. 
Tr. Bn. Jan. 9-March 24, 1918. All sectors ex. Chemin 
des Dames. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 27th. 

Farniingtou, Conn. 



Private, 1st Class, Otis M. Miller ("Otie") 

Born March 20, 1895. Clk., Pratt & Cady Mfg. Co., 
Htfd. Enl. Tp. L May 22, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 1, 
1918. All sectors. 

18 Dccrfield Ave., Hartford, Conn. 



Private William A. Miller ("Bill") 

Born Aug. 29, 1895. Metal polisher. Dft. May 11, 
1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 6th. St. 
Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg., 103rd M. G. Bn. Joined 
101st M. G. Bn. Dec. 21st. Left Bn. at Devens. and 
dis. Cp. Dix April 19, 1919. 

289 Central Ave., New Haven, Conn. 



298 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 








Cook Edgar W. Mohr ("Doughnuts") 

Born Sept. 20, 1896. Salesman. Enl. Aug. 21, 1917, 
Niantic. Wag. April 1, 1918; cook May 2, 1918. All 
sectors. Sk. in hosp., Neuf chateau and Bazoilles, Nov. 
19-Dec. 25, 1918. Ret. U. S. March 15th; dis. March 
14, 1919. 

IS Gorman Place, So. Manc/icslcr, Conn. 



Private, 1st Class, John F. Molloy ("Jack") 

Born Aug. 5, 1895. Clk. Enl. Aug. 21, 1917, Niantic. 
Pvt., 1st class, Nov. 11, 1918. All sectors. Trans. 26th 
Div. Hqrs. Nov. 23rd. Ret. U. S. April 5th; dis. April 
29, 1919. 

269. Windsor St., Hartford, Conn. 



Corporal Aaron W. Morrill 

Born Aug. -4, 1895. Clk. Enl. June 4, 1917, Co. C, 
1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. All sectors. Shell wound 

Oct. 23rd, Verdun; hosp., Souilly, Vittol, and Angers. Rejoined Bn. 
Dec. lOtli. Trans. C. R. ()., Bourges; trans. Aug. 3rd, C. R. O. Bn. 
A. S. C, and prom, to cpl. Citation: "This is to certify that Pvt. 
Aaron W. Morrill lias been on duty in the Central Records Office, 
A. E. F., where he has given valuable service and demonstrated ac- 
knowledged loyalty and devotion to duty. His work greatly contributed 
to the efficiency and success of the C. R. O., which office has been 
charged with the duty of making an accurate and detailed record of 
the service of more than two million of our men serving in the A. E. F. 
ill France, England, Italy, Germany, Belgium, and Russia. 
* * ♦ * * 

D.vxiEL R. Stone 

Colonel, General Staff, Commanding" 

Ret. U. S. Aug. 23rd; dis. Aug. 28, 1919. June. 1916- 
April, 1917, 1st Inf., C. N. G. Mex. Border. 1916. 
Morrisvillc, 1 7. 



Privatk, 1st Class, Francis E. Murphy ("Spud") 

Born May 17, 1896. Clk., Htfd. Ace. & Ind. Co. 
Enl. Aug. 22, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, Oct. 1, 1918. 
All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 29th. 

61 Sigourncy St., Hartford, Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



299 




Corporal William C. Murray ("Bill") 

Born June 1, 1897. Clk., Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. 
Aug. 23, 1917, Niantic. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Jan. 10, 
1918; to 41st Div. April 1, 1918. Cpl. July 1, 1918. 
Ret. U. S. March 8th; dis. March 18, 1919. 

W7 Main St., Hartford, Conn. 




Corporal Lawrence B. Neeld ("Larry") 

Born Dec. 28, 1892. Student, Wesleyan. Enl. Aug. 
21, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class. Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. 
Sept. 27, 1917. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 28th; 
hosp. Nov. 4-Dec. 15, 1918, Beaune. 

213 Watchung Ave., No. Plainfield, N. J. 



^' 



^ 




Sergeant Arthur A. Nielsen ("Art") 

Born Oct. 17, 1894. Auto dealer. Enl. Tp. L June 5, 
1917. Vv\., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; wag. April 1, 1918; 
cpl. Aug. 1, 1918; sgt. Dec. 6, 1918. All .sectors. Shell 
wound, Verdun, Oct. 23rd. Det. ser., 101st Supply 
Train and M. P. Hqrs., Nov. 17-26, 1918. 

4-94 -^^^ Britain Ave., Hartford, Conn. 



Wagoner John H. Nolan ("Cope") 

Born May 13, 1896. Clk., S. K. F. Ball Bearing Co., 
Htfd. Enl. Tp. L April 25, 1917. Wag. Mav 1, 1918. 
Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Jan. 9, 1918. Sk. in hosp. Feb. 10- 
23, 1918. Rejoined Bn. March 30th. All sectors ex. 
Chemin des Dames. 

60 Grand St., Hartford, Conn. 



300 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Sergeant Major Johx J. Nolan ("H. W. & H.") 

Born Feb. 14, 1895. Clk., Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. L May 29, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; 
cpl. Dec, 1917. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau- 
Thierry. Gassed and wounded, north Chateau-Thierry, 
Inly 25th; hosp., Vittel and Chateauroux. Sgt. Sept., 
1918; sgt.-maj. Oct., 1918. Ret. U. S. Jan. 30th; dis. 
Feb. 12, 1919. 

26 Sumner St., Hartford, Co)ui. 




Private William Oliver ("Willie") 

Born Oct. 19, 1894. Farmer. Dft. Sept. 18, 1917. 
Tr. Cp. Wheeler, 121st Inf., 31st Div. Arr. France July 
1, 1918; joined Bn. July 28th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, 
IVIeuse-Arg. 

Rcmlap, Ala. 




Bugler Edward W. O'Mara ("Doug Fairbanks") 

Born Oct. 28, 1899. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. L April 25, 1917. Bugler May 3, 1917. All sectors. 
Gassed Oct. 23rd, Verdun; hosp. to Nov. 10th, Vittel. 
Ret. U. S.; dis. March, 1919. Co. football team. 

31 PIi)iv St., Hartford, Conn. 




Supply Sergeant Joiix W. (TNeil ("Jack") 

Born Aug. 25, 1891. Carpenter. Enl. June 3, 1913, 
Co. A, 1st Vt. Inf., Rutland. Cpl. March 14, 1915; sgt. 
Aug. 16, 1916; supply sgt. April 1, 1918. French M. G. 
Sch., Chatenois, Nov. 15-29, 1917. Det. ser., Bn. bag- 
gage detail, St. Blin, Feb. 8-March 24, 1918. All sectors 
ex. Chemin des Dames. Shell wound, Verdun, Oct. 17th. 
Sk. in hosp., Toul, May 3-14, 191S. Mex. Border, 1916. 

M iddletown Springs, Vt. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



301 




k 



Musician, 1st Class, William J. O'Neil ("Billie") 

Born June 17, 1883. Musician. Enl. Aug. 22, 1917, 
Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, Oct. 3, 1917; mus., 1st class, 
Jan. 2, 1918. Sent to U. S. April 21, 1918, representing 
Bn. in 3rd Liberty Loan drive. Rejoined Bn. Aug. 21st, 
Etrochey. All sectors ex. Chateau-Thierry. Gassed, 
Verdun, Oct. 29th. Trans. 102d Inf., Dec. 20, 1918. Re- 
joined Bn. Jan. 1, 1919. 

lo East St., Hartford, Conn. 




Private Ralph Pascale ("Pat") 
Born Feb. 9, 1895. Married. Mechanic. Dft. 



Cp. 



Devens, Sept. 20, 1917. Joined Bn. Sept. 21st, Niantic. 
All sectors ex. St. Mihiel. Shell wound, north Chateau- 
Thierry, July 25th; hosp. to Sept. 22d. Sk. in hosp. Nov. 
18-Dec. 3, 1918, Brest. Ret. U. S. and dis. later. 2d 
Regt., C. N. G., Mex. Border, 1916. 
222 Bassett St., New Haven, Conn. 




Private, 1st Class, George Paterson ("Pat") 

Born Nov. 12, 1893. Carpenter. Enl. July 10, 1917, 
Tp. L. Pvt., 1st class, Oct., 1918. Trans. Div. Hqrs. 
July, 1918. All sectors ex. Meuse-Arg. Ret. U. S. Nov. 
1, 1918; dis. Jan. 3, 1919. 

Rocky Hill, Conn. 



Private Benjamin Pawloski ("Ben") 

Born Dec. 8, 1893. R. R. employee. Dft. July 5, 1918, 
San Antonio, Texas. Arr. France Oct. 6, 1918; trans. 
41st Div. Joined Bn. Dec. 21st. 

R. F. D. 2. Houston, Texas. 



302 



History of Tin: 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Sergeant Charles C. Pearson ("Charlie") 

Born April 2, 1890. Salesman. Enl. Tp. L Jan. 12, 
1917. Cpl. July 1, 1917; sgt. April 1, 1918. All sectors. 
French M. G. Sch., Chatenois, Nov. 25-Dec. 9, 1917. 

260 Broadiva\\ AvUngton, Mass. 



Private George H. Pfeffer ("Pfef") 

Born Oct. 30, 1887. Clk., Winchester Arms Co., New 
Haven. Dft. Cp. Devens Sept. 20, 1917. Joined Bn., 
Niantic, Sept. 21st. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 
29th; hosp. to Dec. 1st, Vichy. Ret. U. S. Jan. 16th; dis. 
Jan. 30, 1919. 

607 New Hall St., Highwood, Conn. 




Private William A. Pollion ("Bill") 

Born Dec. 31, 1897. Carpenter. Enl. June 10, 1917, 
2d Inf., Miss. N. G. Tr. Cp. Beauregard, 142d M. G. 
Bn., 39th Div. Arr. France Sept. 3, 1918; joined Bn. 
Dec. 9th. 

S.34 Fel icily St., New Orleans, La. 



Private Lev L. Rabb ("Black Emma") 

Born Sept. 6, 1896. Farmer. Enl. July U, 1917. Tr. 
140th M. G. Bn., 39th Div., Cp. Jackson. Arr. France 
Sept. 3, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 9th. 

Woodville, Miss. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



303 




Wagoner Peter K. Rask ("Pete") 

Born Oct. 6, 1893. Civ. engr., City Engr's Office, 
Htfd. Enl. Tp. L April 24, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 1, 
1917; wag. Nov. 1, 1918. All sectors. Det. ser., G-3, 
Div. Hqrs., April 7-Oct. 20, 1918. Ret. U. S. April 4th- 
dis. May 3, 1919. Co. football team. 

710 Maple Ave., Hartford, Conn. 




Private Samuel W. Reagan ("Sam") 

Born Jan. 19, 1892. Oil business. Dft. May 6, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Devens, 76th Div. Arr. France July 26th; 
joined Bn. Dec. 8th. 

R. F. D. 3, Byington, Tenn. 




Sergeant Fred W. Reichard ("Fritz") 

Born Aug. 13, 1898. Student. Enl. Aug. 21, 1917, Ni- 
antic. Mech. April 1, 1918; cpl. Oct. 17, 1918; sgt. Dec. 
1, 1918. All sectors. 

162 Center St., So. Manchester, Conn. 



Private George Reise ("Smiler") 

Dft. Cp. Devens Sept. 20, 1917. Joined Bn., Niantic, 
Sept. 21, 1917. Left Bn. May, 1918 and ret. U. S. 
where placed in hosp. until discharge. 

29 Daggett St., W. Haven, Conn. 



304 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



m *»' 




J 



Wagoner John B. Riddell ("Johnnie") 

Born June 11, 1895. Machinist, Pratt & Whitney Co., 
Htfd. Enl. Tp. B June 20, 19 Ki. Trans. Tp. L April 14, 
1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 1, 1917; bugler Aug. 20, 1917; 
wag. Nov. 11, 1918. All sectors. Sk. in hosp., April 11- 
June 10, 1918. Gassed, July 22<1, north Chateau-Thierry; 
hosp. to Aug. 26th. 

56' Harbison Ave, Harlfonl, Conn. 



rfJ*^ 




Private John C. Roark ("Jack") 

Born Feb. 5, 1896. Farmer. Dft. May 27, 1918. Tr. 
142d M. G. Bn., 39th Div., Cp. Beauregard. Arr. France 
Sept. 3rd; joined Bn. Dec. 10th. 

Nickel, La. 




Private Irwin H. Rogers ("Disciple") 

Born Sept. 10, 1892. Clk., Aetna Fire Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. L April 23, 1917. All sectors. Trans. Div. Hqrs., 
Eccomoy, March 7, 1919. Ret. U. S.; dis. June, 1919. 

Spring St., Windsor, Conn. 







Wagoner Albert Rossing ("Al") 

Born Dec. 30, 1893. Gold beater. Enl. Tp. L June 12, 
1917. vSaddlcr July 1, 1917; wag. April 1, 1918. All sec- 
tors. 

88 Edwards St., Ilarljord, Con)i. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



305 




Private Clarence A. Rowley ("Row") 

Born Aug. 24, 1889. Married. Sales elk. Dft. Aug. 4, 
1918. Tr. Cp. McArthur, Texas. Arr. France Oct. 7th; 
joined Bn. Dec. 21st. Left Bn. at Cp. Devens; dis., Cp. 
Funston, April 24, 1919. 

2526 W . 7th Ave., Denver, Colo. 



^^ 







\^ 



Private Chester Sawyer ("Chet") 

Born Tune 7, 1895. Farmer. Dft. July 5, 1918. Tr. 
41st Div., Cp. McArthur, Texas. Cpl. Aug. 3, 1918. Arr. 
France Sept. Pith; joined Bn. Dec. 8th. Automatically 
reduced to pvt. account of transfer. 

Mertzon, Texas. 



W'r«#*'V 



Corporal Darrell M. Scattergood ("Scat") 

Born May 8, 1896. Clk., Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. 
L May 22, 1917. Quarantined, Southampton, England, 
Nov. 29-Dec. 28, 1917. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Jan. 15, 1918. 
Cpl. June, 1918. Ret. U. S. Feb. 14th; dis. Feb. 25, 1919. 
Co. baseball teain. 

65 Golf St., Maple Hill, Neiv Britian, Conn. 




Private, 1st Class, Anthony J. Schultz 
("Lonk Islant") 

Born Aug. 30, 1898. Weaver. Enl. Aug. 27, 1917, Ni- 
antic. Pvt., 1st class, Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, 
Verdun, Oct. 24th; hosp. Nov. 9-Dec. 18, 1918. Co. and 

Bn. baseball teams. 
5 Velvet Lane, Mystic, Conn. 



306 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Private IMagnus J. Schultz ("Mag"') 

Dft. 1918. Arr. France and sent to depot div., St. 
Aignan. Joined Bn. Dec. 8, 1918. 
Shell Lake, Was/ibuni, Wis. 



-^ fs< 





tt '^vi 



Wagoner William W. vScoville ("Bill") 

Born April 10, 1898. Student, Dartmouth. Enl. Tp. 
L May 1, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; wag. April 
1, 1918. AW sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 27th. Det. 
sen, 101st Supply Train, Nov. 18-Dec. IS, 1918. 

190 Wethcrsfield Ave., Hartford, Conn. 




Private, 1st Class, John L. Seaver ("Jack") 

Born Nov. 28, 1891. Telegrapher. Enl. April 5, 1917, 
Co. A, 1st Vt. Inf., Rutland. Pvt., 1st class, Sept. 10, 
1917. All sectors. Sk. in hosp., Bordeaux, Oct. 27-Dec. 
14, 1918. 

WaU'nigford, Vt. 




Corporal Louis W. Sechtman ("Sec") 

Born April o, 1898. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Aug. 22, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, Oct. 1, 1918; 
cpl. Dec. 1, 1918. All sectors. 

1326 Broad St., Hartford, Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



307 




Private Harrison D. Seward ("Stretch") 

Born Sept. 28, 1898. Sales elk. Dft. Aug. 13, 1917. 
Tr. Cp. Beauregard, La. Arr. France Aug. 10, 1918; 
joined Bn. Dec. 21st. 

Newark, Ark. 



Private Concezio Silvestri ("Caruso") 

Born Aug. 18, 1895. Machine hand. Dft. Sept. 19, 
1917. Tr. Cp. Devens, 303rd M. G. Bn., 76th Div. Arr. 
France July 28, 1918; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, 
Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 27th; hosp. 
Nov, 9-Dec. 10, Beaune. 

50 Pleasant St., Hartford, Conn. 





S 



I^N^^ 



Private James T. Simpson ("Hoosier") 

Born March 12, 1891. Factory hand. Dft. Oct. 2, 
1917. Tr. 122d Inf., 31st Div., Cp. Wheeler. Arr. France 
July 6, 1918; joined Bn, July 28th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, 
Meuse-Arg. Sk. in hosp. Dec, 1918. 

No. Birmingham, Ala. 




Mess Sergeant Harry N. Smith ("Hoover") 

Bom July 31, 1889. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. L Aug. 5, 1917, Niantic. Sgt. Jan. 24, 1918; mess 
sgt, Dec. 1, 1918. All sectors. Army M. G. Sch., Lan- 
gres, Nov. 17-Dec. 21, 1918. 

597 Biirnside Ave., Burnside, Conn. 



308 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




IMechaxic Walter S. Smith ("Piano Mover") 

Born Jan. 11, 1891. Carpenter. Dft. Sept. 20, 1917. 
Joined Bn., Niantic, Sept. 21st. Pvt., 1st class, April 1, 
1918; mech. Jan. 1, 1919. Chemin des Dames, Toul, 
Chateau-Thierry. Sk. in hosp., Chaumont, Chatel Guy- 
on, and Langres, Aug., 1918-Dec. 11, 1918. 

IJi^lo Dixwell Ave., New Haven, Conn. 



i^^^ ^Jm 



Private Ashley M. Snipes ("Smiler") 
Born Feb. 21. 1895. Farmer. Dft. Sept. 5, 19i; 



Tr. 



Cp. Wheeler, 121st Inf., 31st Div. Arr. France July 6, 
1918; joined Bn. July 27th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse- 
Arg. Wounded, Verdun, Oct. 27th; hosp., Limoges, to 
Dec. 10th. 

R. F.D.I, Moultrie, Go. 






Sergeant Major Albert C. Snyder ("Al") 

Born Dec. 15, 1895. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Aug. 23, 1917, Niantic. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Dec. 31, 
1917. Sgt. May 1, 1918; sgt. maj. Julv 1, 1918. Ret. 
U. S. Feb. 14th; dis. Feb. 24, 1919, 

Bloom field, Co)in. 



<^ 




Private Tiio.mas E. Stearns ("'Tommie") 

Born Sept. 9, 1895. Moulder. Enl. June 28, 1917, Co. 
C, 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. All sectors. 
Braintrce, Vt. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



309 




Sergeant John R. Stoddard ("Jack") 

Born May 17, 1895. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. L May 8, 1917. Pvt. 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. 
Aug. 1, 1918; sgt. Nov. 1, 1918. All sectors. Shell wound 
April 20, 1918, Mandres; hosp. to June 30th, Bazoilles 
and Chateaurovix. Co. football and baseball teams. Six 
months Sth hif., Mass. N. G., 1912. 

Glastonbury, Conn. 



/^0k\ 




Private, IstClass, SewardH. Strickland ("Strick") 

Born April 8, 1898. Student. Enl. Aug. 24, 1917, Ni- 
antic. Pvt., 1st class, Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Shell- 
shocked, Verdun, Oct. 24th; hosp., Nubecourt, to Nov, 
7th. 

17 So. Hudson's!., Hartford, Conn. 



Corporal Everett N. Sturman ("Ev") 

Born July 18, 1896. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl.. Tp. 
L, April 23, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Sept. 27, 1917; cpl. 
April 1, 1918. All sectors. Gas Sch., Rolampont, Oct. 
10-23, 1918. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 29th; hosp. Nov. 6th 
until invalided home Dec. 24th; dis. Jan. 28, 1919. 

o06 Freeborn St., Austin, Minn. 



Private William C. Suits ("Bill") 

Born Oct. 22, 1891. Married. Dft. July 1, 1917. Tr. 
Cp. Wheeler, 122d Inf., 31st Div. Arr. France June, 
1918; joined Bn. July. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 
Left Bn. Nov., 1918; ret. U. S. Dec. 24, 1918. 

26 Caves Spring St., Rome, Ga. 



310 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Corporal Charles P. Swan ("Chuck") 

Born April 18, 1894. Student, Colgate. Enl. Tp. L 
Mav 4, 1917. P\^., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; wag. April 
1, 1918; cpl. Oct. 1, 1918. All sectors. Co. football and 
Co. and Bn. baseball teams. 

23 Florence Street, Hartford, Conn. 




Sergeant William J. Sweeney ("Bill") 

Born March 18, 1891. Sales mgr.. Hart & Hutchison 
Co., New Britain. Enl. Tp. L April 24, 1917. Pvt., 1st 
class, Aug. 1, 1917; cpl. Aug. 27, 1917; sgt. Aug. 1, 1918. 
All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 27th; hosp., Bordeaux 
Nov. 8-Dec. 10, 1918. Co. football and baseball teams. 

■')4 Hillside Ave., Nani^atnck, Conn. 




Private Charles F. Sweet ("Sweet Apple") 

Born July 24, 1890. Mill hand. Dft. Cp. Devens 
Sept. 20, 1917. Joined Bn., Niantic, Sept. 21st. Sk. in 
liosp. Jan. 15-Ju1y 15, 1918, Ncufchateau and Vittel. 
All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames and Toul. Gassed, 
X'erdun, Oct. 29th; hosp., Limoges. Ret. U. S. Dec. 18, 
1918; dis. Jan. 27, 1919. 

1S7 South St., Providence, R. I. 




Pri\atk, 1st Class, Willard F. Terrell ("Bunny") 

Born Nov. 15, 1893. Lumber salesman. Enl. Tp. L 
May 22, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917. Trans. Sp. 
Tr. Bn. Dec. 31, 1917. Rejoined Bn. March 30, 1918. 
All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. Gassed, Verdun, 
Oct. 26th. Trans. Div. Hqrs. Ian. 17, 1919. Ret. U. S. 
May 6th; dis. May 19, 1919. 

Care Geo. Terrell, Yalesville, Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



311 




■^,1 



V 



L%' L i 



Private George D. Thayer ("Fat") 

Born July 10, 1894. Granite cutter. Enl. May 7, 
1917, Co. C, 1st Vt. Inf., Barre. All sectors. Trans, from 
Bn. Hqrs. April 1, 1918. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 27th; 
hosp. Nov. nth-Dec. 8th. 

9 Clark St., Barre, Vt. 




Private William E. Thomas ("Tommie") 

Born July 1, 1893. Letter carrier. Dft. Oct. 3, 1917. 
Tr. 30-tth M. G. Bn., 76th Div., Cp. Devens. Arr. 
France July 26, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 8th. 

15 Pleasant St., Ansonia, Conn. 




Private Hector Thonin ("Hec") 

Born May 7, 1894. Iron worker. Dft. July 5, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Oct. 4th; joined Bn. Dec. 
8th. 

Elm Street, No. Leominster, Mass. 



Sergeant Samuel Thornton ("Sam") 

Born June 26, 1893. Butcher. Enl. Tp. L May 8, 
1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 1, 1917; cook, May 1, 1918; 
sgt. Dec. 6, 1918. All sectors. 3rd Corps Sch., Clamecy, 
Jan. 2-Feb. 5, 1919. 

15 Spring St., So. Manchester, Conn. 



312 



History of The lOlsx MachiM': Gun Battalion 




Sergeant Elmer S. Tiger ("Tige") 

Born Aug. 10, 1893. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. 
Tp. L June 5, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. 
April 1, 191S; sgt. Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, 
Verdun, Oct. 27th; hosp. Nov. 5-17, 1918, Nantes. Co. 
football and Co. and Bn. baseball teams. Rejoined Bn. 
Dec. nth. 

J'cdpiick, X. J. 



Sergeant Louis S. Tracy ("Stan") 

Born May 25, 1897. Clk., Conn. Mutual Life Ins. Co. 
Enl. Tp. B April 4, 1917. Trans. Tp. L April 14, 1917. 
Pvt., 1st class, April 1, 1918; cpl. Nov. 1, 1918; sgt. Dec. 
6,1918. All sectors. Sk. in hosp. April 7-18, 1918, Chau- 
mont. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 28, 1918. Co. football team. 

(S4I AsylHfulAve., Hartford, Conn. 




Sergeant Harold E. Trumble ("Red") 

Born March 17, 1893. Married. Machinist, Pratt & 
Whitney Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. L May 4, 1917. Trans. 
Sqdn. Hqrs. Cpl. July 1, 1917. Trans, back to Co. Aug. 
22d. Stable sgt. Aug. 27, 1917. 1st Corps. Sch., Gondre- 
court, Nov. 24-Dec. 27, 1917. All sectors. Duty with 
Co. motor train. Gassed, Oct. 28th, Verdun; hosp., 
Nantes, Nov. 3-17, 1918. 1st Inf., C. N. G., June, 1915- 
March, 1917. Mex. Border, 1916. 

lb'4 Russ St., Hartford, Conn. 



Private Gust Tutas ("Irish") 

Horn March 15, 1891. Cook. Dft. Inly 18, 19 IS. Tr. 
Cp. Hancock, 148th M. G. Bn., 41st Div. Arr. France 
Oct. 2d; joined Bn. Dee. 9th. Left Bn. at Cp. Devens; 
dis. April 26, 1919. 

Niagara, Wis. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



313 



^^^ 



tf 



^. 



/ 



Private Aleack Urechena ("Urie") 

Born Sept. 20, 1892. Laborer. Dft., Cp. Devens, 
Sept. 20, 1917. Joined Bn., Niantic, Sept. 21st. All sec- 
tors ex. St. Mihiel. Det. ser. Sept. 10-Oct. 27, 1918. 

Moitvillc, Coil)!. 




L^l'^: 



Private, 1st Class, Carlos E. Waldo ("Eric") 

Born Nov. I, 1892. Clk. Enl. Sept. 29, 1917, Niantic. 
Pvt., 1st class, Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, April 
20th, Mandres. Shell wound, north Chateau-Thierry, 
July 25th; hosp. to Aug. 31st, Vittel. Gassed, Oct. 28th, 
Verdun; hosp. Nov. 3-Dec. 11, 1918, Nantes. 

34^2 Main St., Bristol, Conn. 




Sergeant Calvin J. Ward ("Cal") 

Born Dec. 25, 1893. Builder. Enl. June 19, 1916, Co. 
A, 1st Vt. Inf. Cpl. June 29, 1917; sgt. Sept. 27, 1917. 
All sectors ex. St. Mihiel. Shell wound July 25th, north 
Chateau-Thierry; hosp., Bazoilles and Bordeaux, to 
Sept. 1, 1918. Shell wound, Oct. 23rd, Verdun; hosp. to 
Feb. 18, 1919, Mesves. Mex. Border, 19U5. 

Pittsford, Vt. 




Wagoner Ralph A. Weill ("Shrimp") 

Born Feb. 29, 1892. Tobacco grower. Enl. Aug. 21, 
1917, Niantic. Wag. April 1, 1918. All sectors. 
.1. Weill & Co., Mutual Life Bhlg., Buffalo, N. Y. 



.1 



314 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 




Private John D. Weir ("Jack") 

Born Aug. 4, 1S92. Commercial artist. Enl. Tp. 
L Aug. 5, 1917. Trans. 29th Engrs. Aug. 23, 1918. 
Sk. in hosp., Chaumont, Dec. 4-30, 1918. Rejoined 
Engrs. and Ret. U. S. May 14; dis. May 21, 1919. 

128 Park Place, Schenectady, N. Y. 




Private Harold A. Whipple ("Whip") 

Born March 14, 1898. Farmer. Enl. April 6, 1917, 
Co. M, 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. Trans. 101st Am. 
Tr. Oct. 17, 1917. Joined Bn. Sept. 4, 1918. All sectors. 
Univ. of Rennes March-July, 1919. Ret U. S. July 14th; 
dis. July 18, 1919. Mex. Border, 1916. Married Mile. 
Andree Houedry, of Rennes, Sept. 22, 1919. 

Lyudonvillc, Vt. 



Private Alden H. Whitmore ("Whit") 

Born Aug. 17, 1891. Emp., Colt's Fire Arms Co. 
Dft., Cp. Devens, Sept. 20, 1917. Joined Bn., Niantic, 
Sept. 21st. Left Bn. Nov., 1917; sk. in hosp. to March, 
1918. Ret. U. S., dis. April 30, 1918, for physical disa- 
bility. 

Valley St., Willimantic, Conn. 




Corporal Theodore E. Whitney ("Ted") 

Born April 22, 1896. Clk., Pratt & Cady Mfg. Co., 
Hlfd. Enl. Tp. L May 29, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 
1917; cpl. Sept. 27, 1917. .All sectors. Gas Sch., Rolam- 
pont, Nov. 17-25, 1918. R. O. T. C, Plattsburg, 1916. 

Jf.1 Evergreen Ave., JIarlford, Conn. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



315 




Private, 1st Class, John C. Wiley ("Jack") 

Born Aug. 29, 1896. Student, Williams Coll. Enl. 
Aug. 28, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, Oct. 17, 1918. 
All sectors. Gassed Oct. 28th, Verdun. Univ. of Rennes, 
March-July, 1919. Ret. U. S. July 14th; dis. July 18, 
1919. 

176 Collins Si., Hartford, Conn. 




W^AGONER Harold C. Willard ("Jess") 

Born June 8, 1893. Clk., Scottish Union Ins. Co., 
Htfd. Enl. Aug. 21, 1917, Niantic. Wag. April 1, 1918. 
All 'sectors. 

Mawcook, Quebec, Canada. 




> =^11' 




Private Francis L. Winslow ("Winnie") 

Born Sept. 21, 1892. Engr., Colt's Fire Arms Co. Enl. 
Aug. 28, 1917, Niantic. Sk. in hosp., Chaumont and 
Vichy. Trans. 2d Army Hqrs. Oct. 15, 1918. Univ. of 
Lyons, March-July, 1919. Ret. U. S. July 27th; dis. 
Aug. 2, 1919. 

ISO Walnul Si., Monlclair, N. J. 




Priv.\te, Alfred E. Wgod.ard (-'Elf") 
Born Oct. 2, 1894. Farmer. Enl. Co. C, 1st Vt. Inf., 



Ft. Ethan Allen. 
1918. 

Plain field, Vt. 



All sectors. Sk. in hosp. Oct. 8-31, 



316 



History of Thk 101st Machine Gux Battalion 




Wagonkr Leon A. Woodmancy ("Tixk") 

Born Sept. S, 1897. Clk., Conn. Mutual Life Ins. Co. 
Enl. Tp. B April 4. 1917. Trans. Tp. L April 14th. Pvt.. 
1st class, Aus.,^ 1, 1917; wag. April 1, 1918. All sectors. 
Det. ser., 33rd Div., Ligny, Aug. 19-22, 1918; 2r)th Div. 
Hqrs. Sept. 20-Nov. 21, 1918; U. P. and Train Heirs., 
26th Div., Nov. 16-28, 1918. (kissed, Wrdun. Oct. 27th. 
Co. football team. 

J7S Laurel St., Hartford. Conn. 




Private Merwix G. Zeigler (•"Jerry") 

Born March 17, 1896. Farmer. Dft. May 28, 1918. 
Tr. Cp. Lee, Va. Arr. France Aug. 6th; joined Bn. Dec. 
9th. Sk. in hosp. Sept. 2-Oct. 15. 19 IS. 

Stoyes Town, Fa. 




Cook Alexander Zymiski ("Alec") 

Born Aug. 26, 1886. Butcher. Dft., Cp. Devens, Sept. 
20, 1917. Joined Bn. Sept. 21st. Xiantic. Cook Dec. 1, 
1918. All sectors. 

Branlord, Conn. 



Attached as Welfare Workers 



/^ 






Miss Anna deLacy Gary 

Entered Y. M. C. A. service Dec. 1, 1917. Sailed for 
France on Rochambcau Nov. 29, 1917. Arrived Bor- 
deaux Dec. 8th. Assigned to duty with Bn. at Etrochey 
Aug. 29, 1918. Transferred in Troyon Sector to duty at 
"Y" headquarters of 26th Div. While there Miss 
Gary saw to forwarding Y. M. G. A. supplies to the Bat- 
talion. Rejoined at Brest and returned to U. S. with 
Bn. 

Wethersfuid, Conn. 

The Rev. Gharles E. Hesselgrave, Ph.D. 

Entered Y. M. G. A. service from Manchester, Gonn. 
Jan. 1, 1918. Sailed for France on Rocliambeau Jan. 10, 
1918. Arrived Bordeaux Jan. 20th. Assigned to Bn. at 
Vregny Feb. 10, 1918. Left Bn. at Verdun Oct. 15, 1918, 
and was assigned to "Y" headcjuarters of 26th Div. 
Thereafter, until Bn. moved to Mansigne, Dr. Hessel- 
grave was able to make frequent visits to it and directed 
Bn. "Y" work from Div. Hqrs. He was with Bn. in all 
sectors. Rejoined at Brest March 29, 1919, and re- 
turned to U. S. with Bn. 

709 White Building, Seattle, Wash. 

The Rev. Ernest deF. Miel, D.D. 

Entered Red Gross service May 29, 1917. Sailed for 
France June 2, 1917, arriving June 12. Ganteen service 
with French troops at Gare du Nord, Paris, June 20- 
Aug. 1, 1917; with 1st Div., A. E. F., in training area, 
Aug. 1-Sept. 1, 1917; service of Hospital Supply, A. R. 
G. Hqrs., Paris, Sept. 1-Nov. 1, 1917; A. R. G. at Base 
Hosp. IS, Bazoilles, Nov. 1, 1917-Jan. 6, 1918. Fur- 
loughed home Jan. 22, 1918, and returned to France 
April 16th to duty as A. R. G. field chaplain. Spec. 
duty at 1st Div., Hosp. 110, Beauvais, May 25- July 2; 
in charge Ghaplain's Bureau, A. R. G., Paris, July 2- 
Aug. 5; duty with Sanitary Train, 26th Div., Aug. 25- 
Dec. 11. Dr. Miel was able to make many visits to the 
101st M. G. Bn. and conducted a number of services 
while at Bazoilles and later when with Div. Sanit. Train. 
Returned to U. S. Feb. 2, 1919. 

120 Sigourney St., Hartford, Conn. 



Statistics 



Compiled by .Sgt. John R. Stoddard 



STRENGTH AT PORT OF EMBARKATION 
FOR FRANCE 

B Co 6 ofTicers 173 men 

C Co 6 officers 175 men 

Ilqrs. Co 2 officers 32 men 

Med. Del 1 officer 13 men 

Strength of Haltalion . . .15 officers 393 men 

Transfers from 1st Vt. Inf. 

To B Co 1 officer 20 men 

To B Co 1 officer 28 men 

To Hqrs. Co 32 men 



Total 2 officers 



80 men 



REPLACEMENTS (OFFICERS)* 

Cominandins (pdiccrs 2 

For B C.o 7 

For C Co <> 

For Hqrs Co., including Med. Det 7 

Total 22 



REPLACEMENTS (MEN)* 

For B Co 86 

For C Co 10() 

Total 192 

* From other units in France. 

NUMBER OF MEN COMMISSIONED 

From B Co Ki 

From C Co 10 

From I I<|rs, Co (J 

Total 32 

TRANSFERS TO ARMY CANDIDATE 
SCHOOLS 

From B Co 13 

From C Co 9 

From 1 l<|rs. Co 5 

Total 27 

SENT TO MACHINE GUN SCHOOLS 
(OFFICERS) 

l-Voni B Co 13 

From C Co 10 

From I Iqrs. Co 3 

Total 26 

SENT TO MACHINE GUN SCHOOLS 
iMEN) 

From B Co 11 

I-'rom C Co 10 

From Hqrs. Co 6 



Total . 



TO ARMY SANITARY SCHOOL 

(OFFICERS) 

From Med. Del. (dental) 1 



TO ARMY GAS SCHOOL 

iMoni B (;.<) 3 

I*'r()in C (".o 4 

'Jotal 7 

TO MOTOR TRANSPORT SCHOOL 

(MEN) 
From B Co 1 

TO SPECIAL TRAINING BATTALION 
(•'FOOT-SCHOOL') 

From B Co 16 men 

From C Co 10 men 

F"rom Hqrs. Co 2 men 

From Med. Det 1 man 

Total 29 men 

INVALIDED TO THE STATES (.MEN) 

From B Co 13 

From C Co 8 

From Hqrs. Co 2 

From Med. Det 

Total 23 

RETURNED TO STATES AS INSTRUC- 
TORS, ETC. 

From B Co 1 officer 3 men 

From C Co 3 officers 6 men 

Total 4 officers 9 men 

CASUALTIES 

Killed in Action 

B Co 5 

C Co 9 

Total 14 

Died of Wounds 

B Co 1 

C Co _*6 

Total 7 

*One ofliccr. 

Died of Disease 

B Co 3 

C Co 5 

1 Iqrs. Co 1 

Total 9 
Wounded in Action 

Severely Slightly 

B Co. 12 " 13 

C Co. 1.') 19 

1 Iqrs. Co. 1 1 

Med. Det. 1 5 

Tolal 29 38 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



319 



Gassed 

Severely Slightly 
B Co. 2 42 

C Co. 8 ao 

Hqrs. Co. 1 5 

Med. Det. 4 

Total 11 106 

Shell-shocked 

B Co 5 

C Co 2 

Total 7 

Total dead 30 

Total wounded 6^ 

Total gassed 117 

Total shell-shocked 7 

Total 221 

During the war the total number borne on 
the rolls of the Battalion was: 38 officers, 544 
enlisted men. 



NUMBER OF MARRIED MEN IN 
BATTALION 

B Co •> officers 14 men 

C Co 4 officers 15 men 

Hqrs. and Med. Det 8 officers 6 men 

Total 17 officers 35 men 



AVERAGE AGE 

Officers B Co 27 yrs. 

Men, B Co 23 yrs. 

Officers, C Co 25 yrs. 

Men, C Co 23 yrs. 

Officers, Hqrs., and Med. Det 29 yrs. 

Men, Med. Det 23 yrs. 

Men, Hqrs. Co 24 yrs. 

Average age of Battalion 24.8 yrs. 



TABLE SHOWING CIVIL OCCUPATIONS 
Note- Under building trades is included builders, carpenters, masons, etc.; el 
occupving clerical positions in miscellaneous lines; engineering— civil, electrical, ana 
insurance— agents, clerks, adjusters, etc.; manufacturing— clerks and operatives; printi 
printers and engravers. 



Occupation 
Barbers 
Brokers 
Building trades 
Chauffeurs 
Clergymen 
Clerks 
Cooks 
Dentists 
Engineering 
Farmers 
Insurance 

Insurance executives 
Laborers 
Lawyers 
Manufacturing 
Merchandising 
Miners 
Miscellaneous 
Newspaper men 
Painters 

Physicians and Surgeons 
Printing trades 
Railroading 
Salesmen 
Students 
Stone-cutters 



Officers 



Hars. 
Co. 



Sanit. 
Det. 



Co. B 



27 
2 

4 

23 
26 

10 

35 
2 

3 
16 



3 

6 

9 

34 



Co. C 

2 

9 
3 

13 
1 

5 
30 
44 

12 



16 



3 

4 
16 
16 

3 



erks — those 
mechanical; 
ng trades — • 



Total 

2 

6 

23 

9 

1 

49 

3 

3 

14 

62 

81 

3 

24 

2 

101 

3 

3 

46 

5 

3 

4 

7 

10 

34 

60 

6 



320 men came from Connecticut. 

82 men came from Vermont. ^ • ^. ,, • 

The remainder scattering from almost every State in the Union. 



320 



History of The 10 1st Machine Gun Battalion 



DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS 

*l.t. Col. ,1. 1.. Howard, Jdtli 1 )iv. Sl:ilT— 1 )lslin- 
,«uisho(l StTvicf Cross; Chovalicr of tlu' Le- 
gion of Honor; Croix dr (im-rrc. 
*lsl Lieut, (ierald Courtney. l()2d NL G. Hn. — 
Distinguished Service Cross. 
Sgt. llerlierl K:itenl)urs. Sanit. Del. — Distin- 
guished Service Cross. 
Wag. li. H. Hanipson, Co. B — Distinguished 

Service Cross. 
Wag. C H. Uaskins. Co. B — Distinguished 
Service C.ross 
*Pvt. H. P. Saurman. Sanit. Det. 102d M. G. 
Bn. — Distinguished Service Cross. 

Recommended for Croix de Guerre 

Nhiior NL G. Bulkelev. .Ir.. Bn. Commander. 

*Ist Lieut. H. Lv iMoore. '.Uh NL G. Bn. .'Jrd Div. 

Citations for Gallantry 
*Ll. CoL .L L. HowariL 2(Uh Div. StalT. 

Nhjjor KL G. Bulkelev. .Ir.. Bn. Commander. 
♦Major L. H. Watres. •.>.SIh Div. 

Capt. L. L. Powell, NL C. Sanit. Det. 

1st Lieut. Harold .\morv. Co. B. 
*lst Lieut. Gerald Courtney. ItVid M. G. Bn. 
*lst Lieut. H. !•:. IMoore. ;5rd Div. 
*2d Lieut. R. W. Chamberlain, I()2d Inl. 
*2d Lieut. H. W. Thomas, .')tli Div. 

Sgt 1st Class, lv .L Keneliek, Sanit. Del. 

Sgt. R. J. Maun. Co. B. 

Sgt. Herbert Ralenbvirg. Sanit. Det. 
*Sgt. J. A. Rvan, Tank Corps. 

Cpl. C. J. ^iiel. Co. B 

W'ag. E. R. Hampson Co. B. 

Wag. C. W. Uaskins, Co. B. 

Pvl.. 1st Class, Ignatius Brz.oslowicz, Co. C. 

Pvl., 1st Class, 11. .1. Cronipton. Sanit. Del. 

Pvt., Isl Class, C. T. Ingersoll, Sanit. Det. 

Pvt., 1st Class. J. F. Manion, Co. B. 

Pvt., 1st Class, A. W. Telesca, Sanit. Det. 
*Pvt.. 1st Class. !■:. .1. I'l/.ig. Sanit. Del.. l();>rd 

M. G. Bn. 
tPvl. Louis Hart. Co. B. 

Pvt. II. B. Levin, Sanit. Det. 
*Pvt H. P. Saurman. Sanit. Det.. l()2d M. G. 
Bn. 

Recommended for Citation 
Sgt. Howard .1. Bruemmer. Co. B. 
Cpl. KIton M. .Mien. Co. C. 

Citations for Meritorious Service in S. O. S. 
*Sgt. II. R. Haw lev, "Stars and Stripes". 
*Cpl. A. W. Morriil, C. B. O. 

♦Awarded while In units indicated, 
t Posthumou.'!. 

MACHINE GUN ORGANIZATION 
OF A DIVISION 

1 Inf. M. G. companies, one in each regiment. 

2 Brigade battalions of I companies each. 

1 Divisional battalion of 2 companies (motor- 
ized). 
Total 11 M. G. companies. 

ordnance equipment 

Machine Gun 
L"rei\ch Holchkiss Machine (lun. Model I'.tl 1. 
Caliber: S mm. 

Weight of Equipment 

Machine gun '/•] jj's. 

Tripod mount •>>*^ "'s. 

Ammunition case loaded with 12 strips 

(288 cartridges) 28 lbs. 



Spare parts including large and small 

I>ouch 2 I ' 2 lbs. 

Spare barrel in case 28 '2 lbs. 

Approximate number ol shots per minute: 2.')0 
Effective range: 3.. '")()() yards. 

Side Arms 

Automatic Pistol. Caliber 1:"), Model I'.Ul. 

Weight: 2 lbs. 7 ounces. 

Rapidity of lire: This type pistol has been fired 
21 times in 12 seconds, beginning with the 
pistol empty and the loaded magazines on a 
table at llu' side of the operator, lender tfie 
same conditions 21 shots were fired in 28 sec- 
onds making 21 hits on a target (i ft. by 2 ft. 
at 2:'i yds. distance. 

Magazines (three): capacity of 7 ball cartridges 
each. 



Number of rounds machine gun ammunition 

tired by the Battalion; 1,112.228. 
Number of rounds of pistol ammunition fired 

by the Battaliim (pistol practice): l,(i80. 
Number of machine guns reiilaced: .'52. 
.Number of guns hit in action: 7 
Number of barrels replaced because of wear: 8. 
Number of b'ord cars lost in action: 10. 



Maximum number of hours Battalion was 
without food from the kitchens: 
28 hours tluring St. Mihiel OITensive. 

Maximum number of hours gas masks were 
worn at any one time : 
9 hours (N'crdun Sector). 

Longest march on foot during action: 

From Mouilly to \igneulles, 18 kdometers 
(11.2 miles) with full packs, mad ine guns and 
e(]uipment, including seven boxes of ammuni- 
tion per scjuad. Sept. 12. 1918. 

Longest march on foot other than during 
action : 

From Nubeconrt to Villolle-devant-St. Mihiel, 
11 kilometers (2.^). 5 miles) with packs. Nov. 
17. 1918. 
Time: 9 hours 15 minutes. 

Approximate number of miles covered by 
the Battalion as a unit: 
Bv rail. 1800. 
Bv water. (),.')00. 
By motor. 1000. lOtal. 8.:?00. 

KITCHEN LOCATIONS 

Svmbols: ( 2 ) Set up twice; 

( ;5 ) Set up three times; 

( X) Cooked with luiglish efiuipment; 

( **) Cooked with French equipment; 

( R ) Rolling kitchen. 
West Hartford (as Troops B and L) 
Colchester (as Troops B and I A 

Niantic (as TVoops B and L) 

Borden (I';ng.) (X) 
Southampton (l^ng.) (X) 
Le Havre (France) (X) 
Mont-les-Neufchateau 
LitTol-le-Grand (R) 

Train, en route to Chemin des Dames (R) 
Braisne (R) 
Missy-sur-Aisne (R) 
Vregnv (R) 
Ailleval 
Pinon (**) 
.Soissons (R) 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 



321 



KITCHEN LOCATIONS— (Cof(/u(H<'rf) 



Train en route to St. Blin (R) 

Brienne-le-Chateau (R) 

Fontaine (R) 

Colonibey (R) 

Vignory "(R) 

St. Blin (R) 

Harcourt ("Swamp") (R) 

Mandres 

Bernecourt 

Bois de Hazelle (near Flircy) 

Raulecourt 

Foug 

Void 

Vitry-le-Francois 

Coulommes 

Montreuil-aux-Lions 

Bezu-le-Guery 

Near R. R. track N. E. of Chateau-Thierry 

In Sacerie Woods north of Chateau-Thierry (2) 

Courtaron 

Granges 

Etrochey (3) 

St. Dizier 

Near Bar-le-Duc 

En route to Mouilly 

Near Mouilly 

French camp outside of Mouilly 

Mouilly 

2 kilometers outside of Mouilly 

Seuzey Woods (2) 

Bevaux Barracks, outside Verdun 

Cross-roads near Bras 

Bras 

Marre 

Nubecourt 

Villotte 



Demange 

Dainville 

Coussey 

Louvieres (2) 

Mansigne 

Number of times kitchens were set up: 63. 



Time spent at 
Time spent on 

days. 
Time spent in 
Time spent at 
Time spent in 

weeks. 
Time spent in 
Time spent at 
Time spent at 
Time spent in 
Time spent in 
Time spent at 
Time spent at 
Time spent at 
Time spent at 
Time spent on 

non: 7 days. 
Time spent at 
Time spent in 



Niantic: 10 weeks, 
board Transport Mctjanlic: 



13 



England: 6 days. 
Mont-les-N ufchateau: 14 weeks. 
Chemin des Dames Sector: 5 

Toul Sector: 3 months. 
Chateau-Thierry: 1 month. 
Etrochey (at rest): 15 days. 
St. Mihiel Sector: 5 weeks. 
Verdun Sector: 5 weeks, 3 days, 
the Front: 8 months, 23 days. 
Louvieres: 10 weeks. 
Mansigne: 7 weeks. 
Brest: 6 days, 
board U. S. Transport Agamem- 

Camp Devens: 3 weeks. 
France: 17 months. 



Men going overseas with the Battalion and 
returning home with it, or later, arc entitled to 
wear three gold service chevrons denoting 18 
months of foreign service: Oct. 9, 1917-April 8, 
1919. 



The Welfare Association 



The Editor 

In the carl\- spring of 1918 relatives and friends of the men of the 
101st Machine Gun Battahon met at Troop B Armory and organized the 
Welfare Association. William H. Scoville, whose two sons were members 
of Company C, originated the idea and made the arrangements for the 
meeting with the co-operation of J. H. Kelso Davis, a former commanding 
officer of Troop B. Mr. Scoville was elected chairman of the organization 
and Mrs. Frank J. Allen and Franklin C. Whitney were chosen to serve 
with him on the executive committee. 

The Association was formed that all things possible might be done for 
the comfort and well-being of the boys in France, and efforts were made to 
enroll all those personally interested in the Battalion. The membership in- 
cluded residents of various parts of Connecticut, Vermont and other states 
of the Union. Meetings were held at the Armory every two weeks and even 
weekly during the time of the heaviest fighting. Letters were read and news 
exchanged among the members to the great comfort of many who thus 
heard indirectly from "the boy". As soon as the wounded began to 
return from overseas they were brought to the meetings and first-hand 
news of loved ones came to anxious relatives. Such messages, direct from 
the Front, showed that the morale was all right over there and did much 
to keep it high over here. 

Mr. Scoville's office was a clearing-house for all sorts of infomiation about 
the Battalion and the men. Hardly a day passed that did not bring in sev- 
eral urgent enquiries. News was gathered from the Battalion in France, 
from Washington, from the Red Cross and other sources, and no efforts 
were spared to ease some anxious heart. When notices of casualties began 
to come, times were indeed trying. Letters of sympathy were sent to be- 
reaved ones in behalf of the Association; and the names of the dead and 
their photographs were placed on a roll of honor at the Annory. Too much 
credit cannot be given Mr. Scoville for his untiring devotion to the inter- 
ests of the members, and of the men of the Battalion. He was ably assisted 
by Miss Lillian York, his secretary, in caring for the many details involved. 

The first man to come home was Bill O'Niel, chosen from the Battalion 
to be one of the detachment of the A. E. F. to help in this country dur- 
ing the first Liberty Loan drive. He received an enthusiastic ovation 
at the meeting which he addressed, and delivered personal messages to 
relatives. Captains Eaton and G. W. Cheney, Lieutenant Bennett and 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 323 

Sergeant "Deke" Hastings followed soon after, having been sent over 
to act as instructors in the National Army. In December, 1918, Colonel 
Howard arrived and addressed a meeting shortly after. He was followed 
in January by Major Bulkeley, direct from hospital in France where 
he had been since being gassed at Verdun in October. A community 
luncheon was given for the Major at the Hotel Bond under the auspices of 
the Association, at which he outlined the experiences of the Battalion. 
Later he spoke before a meeting in the Armory after having been intro- 
duced by his father, the Hon. Morgan G. Bulkeley, himself a veteran of 
the Civil War. xA.t different times the Association entertained men who 
came filtering home, among whom were: Whittlesey Abbe, Bill Bourn, 
Connie Brady, Lee Bibeau, Roy Bristol, Bill Buck, Dick Cushman, Matt 
Connors, Ed Curran, Jack Gunning, Cliff Haskins, Ted Hampson, Jack 
Hussey, Squab Manning, J. J. Nolan, Dave Olschefskie, Ed O'Mara, 
George Paterson, Gordon Robinson, Ev Sturman, Art Wadlund, Clint 
O'Callahan, Bill Skinner, Charles Sweet, George Mercer, W. P. Allen, Bill 
Murray, Westell Avery, Eddie Mohr, Albert Snyder, Harry Sceery, Sandy 
Cushman, Bob Lindsay, Bill Barber, Frank Greer, Bill Smith, Don Dock- 
rcll, Joe Ryan, Stan Green, Charles McCarthy, Cuzzy Weld and others. 

Dr. Miel addressed a meeting during his furlough to this country, 
and Walter Schutz brought back many messages. Talks were also given 
by J. A. Wiley, father of Jack Wiley of C Company, after his return from 
"Y" work in France, by Dr. Roberts, the Rev. Dr. Lewis of Waterbury, 
and the Hon. Everett J. Lake, now governor of Connecticut. Captain 
Powell, Battalion surgeon, invalided home on account of being gassed at 
Verdun, came to Hartford to speak to the Association, bringing with him 
a large number of lantern slides made from snap-shots taken in practically 
all of the places occupied by the Battalion. These pictures proved of great 
interest to his hearers, and one of special note showed B Company advanc- 
ing into the German artillery barrage in the attack of July 22d on the town 
of Epieds. In April, 1919, the Rev. Dr. Hesselgrave was a guest of honor 
at the Armory. Following his talk the members took advantage of the 
opportunity to express their appreciation of the splendid work the Doctor 
had done for their lads through all the months of hardship and danger. 

After the relief of the armistice a special service of thanksgiving was 
held at the Armory. The Rev. John H. Jackson, father of J. H. Jackson, 
Jr., of B Company conducted the service. 

The sum of five hundred dollars was contributed by the individual 
members to provide a celebration for the Battalion on July -4, 1918, and 
one thousand dollars was forwarded to France to be used at Christmas 
time. This latter gift never reached the Battalion, having gone astray, 



324 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 

but was subsequently recovered and presented to the veteran organization, 
the 101st Machine Gun Battalion Association. The handsome silk flag, 
as well as the bunting flag of the Welfare Association, was also given to 
the boys, and the former has been carried at the funerals of those of our 
men whose bodies have been sent home. 

The crowning effort of the Association was the "welcomc-hoine" cele- 
bration. An appeal for subscription resulted in a generous response. Ar- 
rangements were made for the members to go to Boston in a body to meet 
the in-coming troop-ship, and a little steamer was chartered so that all 
might catch an early glimpse of the great Agamemnon as she loomed ma- 
jestically out of the mist, into the harbor and up to her dock. Flags and 
handkerchiefs were waved and eyes strained to find the familiar face, but 
it was difficult indeed among that mass of animate olive drab crowded on 
the decks. Occasionally one was lucky, and ecstatic greetings were shrieked 
back and forth. Later came the wonderful spectacle of the Divisional re- 
view at Camp Devens, which many of the members attended on their own 
hook, and then the parade of the "gallant Twenty-Sixth" through the 
crowded streets of Boston which were lanes of waving color. The "Wel- 
fare" had a special section in the stands, decorated by a large sign which 
read "Welfare Association, 101st Machine Gun Battalion". Many a heart 
swelled as the ranks swung by amid the cheers from the stand. 

Then came the memorable welcome to Hartford on April 30th. The 
parade of our Battalion and the 102d Infantry escorted by the State Guard 
and every military organization in the city will always remain one of the 
most moving events in the history of Hartford. After the parade the troops 
were drawn up on the south grounds of the Capitol where the ceremony 
of presenting the regimental and battalion colors to the State for safe 
keeping, took place. Major Emerson G. Taylor, of the Division Staff, 
made the presentation speech and Governor Marcus H. Holcomb received 
the colors for the State. The troops were dismissed, and a mammoth 
luncheon given by the city to all returned veterans, filled the big State 
Armory with olive drab and navy blue. In the evening the Welfare Asso- 
ciation gave a reception and dance for the Battalion in the High School 
Auditorium. A handsome gold watch was there presented to Mr. Scoville 
by the members of the Association as a recognition of his faithful services 
as chairman. 

This occasion marked the close of a year of service and co-operation 
among the members of the Welfare Association, and the ties of friendship 
thus formed amid the grave anxieties common to all, will endure always. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 325 




Presentation of Colors to the State 
April 30, 1919 

1. Major James A. Haggerty, 102d Infantry. 

2. Lt. Col. Emerson G. Taylor, 26th Division Staff. 

3. Major Michael A. Connor, 102d Infantry. 

4. Major Stillman F. Westbrook, 101st M. G. Bn. 

5. Lt. Col. James L. Howard, 26th Division Staff. 



APPENDIX 



General Orders No. 28 of the War Department, dated April 22, 1919, 
entitles the Battalion to silver bands to be placed on the color-staff. 
These bands are awarded under Army Regulations for ])articipation in the 
following battle engagements: 

Chemin des Dames Feb. 8-March 21 

Toul April 3-June 28 

Champagne-Mame Defensive.. .July 15-18 

Aisne-Mame Offensive July 18-25 

St. Mihiel Offensive Sept. 12-16 

Troyon Sector Sept. 17-Oct. 8 

Meuse-Argonne Offensive Oct. 18-Nov. 11 

Men serving in all sectors with the Battalion are entitled to five 
battle clasps on the Victory Medal, /. e., one for a defensive sector and 
one for each of the following major operations: Champagne-lMarne De- 
fensive, Aisne-Mame Offensive, St. Mihiel Oft'ensive and the Meuse-Ar- 
gonne Offensive. 



CITATION OF DIVISION UNITS 

The following citation was issued in General Orders, 26th Division, 
October 23, 1918: 

1. The Division Commander extends to the Commanding Officer, 
Fift\--first Infantry Brigade, and the officers and men of the following organ- 
izations, his hearty congratulations on their great success in the operations 
of this date for the capture of the heights of the Meuse in the region of 
Le Houppy Bois and Belleu Bois: Fifty-first Infantry Brigade; 101st In- 
fantry; 102d Infantry; 101st Machine Gun Battalion; 102d Machine Gun 
Battalion; Detachment, 101st Field Signal Battalion; Detachment, 101st 
Sanitary Train; 281st Aero Squadron (French); Balloon No. 25 (French); 
Fifty-first Artillery Brigade; and 1st Battalion, 2llth Field Artillery 
(French). 

2. The attack as ])lanne(l was difficult of execution, and only to be 
attempted by trained troops. You carried it out like the veterans you are, 
and with a dash and \'alor worthy of the best traditions of the Twenty-sixth 
Division. 

C. R. Edw.ards, 

Major General, Commanding. 



History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 327 

THE lOlsT MACHINE GUN BATTALION ASSOCIATION 

On Armistice Day, November 11, 1919, a meeting of the veterans of 
the BattaHon who were hving in Hartford and vicinity was held at the 
Hotel Bond. After a reunion dinner a business meeting took place at which 
the Association was formally organized and started on its career. Since 
that time the annual meeting has been held on Armistice Day, and a num- 
ber of special get-togethers have occurred at other times, including the 
two-day outdoor reunion of June, 1921. The Association undertook to 
complete the publication of this History which had been begun by the 
Battalion while in France. It has endeavored to keep the members in 
touch with one another, and to keep alive the spirit of the old Battalion. 
Representatives of the Association have been present at the funerals of 
those of otu' men whose bodies have been brought back and buried in Con- 
necticut. Assistance has been given to a number of men in the adjustment 
of Government compensation difficulties. It is a purpose of the Associa- 
tion to erect a suitable memorial at some tiine in the future to the comrades 
who gave their lives for their country. Memorial services for the dead 
have been conducted by Dr. Miel at Trinity Church each spring. 

In 1920 the Association was granted the first charter to be issued to 
any organization as a chapter of the Yankee Division Veterans' Associa- 
tion. National Headquarters is located at the YD Club, 200 Huntington 
Ave., Boston, Mass. 

ASSOCIATION OFFICERS 

1919 
President, Everett H. Hart Secretary, Benjamin A. Bourn 

Vice President, James A. Durston Treasurer, Roberts K. Skinner 

1920 
President, Ian D. Mackenzie Secretary, George H. Berlin 

Vice President, Roy D. Heymann Treasurer, Grenville D. Whitney 

1921 
President, A. Stewart Gray Secretary, Douglas A. Blease 

Vice President, H. Holbrook Hyde Treasurer, Henry R. Goodwin 



HE F A BASSETTE CO PRINTERS 
SPRINGFIELD. MASS 



